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Lebanon clashes 'kill civilians' Fighting rages in Lebanese camp
(about 1 hour later)
New clashes between troops and Islamist militants at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon have killed at least eight civilians, officials at the camp say. Intense fighting is raging between troops and Islamist militants at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon.
Lebanese troops and militants exchanged fire around the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in Tripoli, the focus of violence on Sunday that left 50 people dead. At least nine civilians have died in the clashes at Nahr al-Bared camp, near Tripoli, officials there said.
Tanks shelled positions held by militants inside the camp, which houses thousands of Palestinian refugees. Thick plumes of smoke are choking the sky over the camp as soldiers attack the militants with tanks and artillery.
Officials inside the camp said that dozens of people had been wounded. Fatah al-Islam, a group accused of links to al-Qaeda and Syria, has threatened to widen its campaign if troops do not stop the shelling.
'Shells hit houses' A spokesman for the group, Abu Salim, told French news agency AFP: "The army is not only opening fire on us, it is shelling blindly.
On Sunday, more than 20 soldiers and 20 militants were killed, as well as an unconfirmed number of civilians, in clashes around the camp. "If this continues, we will carry the battle outside the city of Tripoli."
FATAH AL-ISLAM Split from Palestinian group Fatah al-Intifada in late 2006Believed to have 150-200 armed men, based in Nahr al-Bared campDenies al-Qaeda links but says it endorses its ideasHas links with Syrian intelligence, Lebanon saysLeader is Shaker al-Abssi class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6676369.stm">Profile: Fatah al-Islam class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6675879.stm">Media see Syrian hand class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6356&edition=1">Send us your comments Failed ceasefire
It was Lebanon's bloodiest internal fighting since the country's civil war ended 17 years ago. Red Cross officials have appealed for a truce to let aid agencies reach those worst affected by the violence.
Sunday's clashes erupted when security forces tried to arrest suspects in a bank robbery. Militants from the Fatah al-Islam group then attacked army posts at the entrances to the camp. FATAH AL-ISLAM Split from Palestinian group Fatah al-Intifada in late 2006Believed to have 150-200 armed men, based in Nahr al-Bared campDenies al-Qaeda links but says it endorses its ideasHas links with Syrian intelligence, Lebanon saysLeader is Shaker al-Abssi class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6676369.stm">Profile: Fatah al-Islam class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6675879.stm">Media see Syrian hand
After a day of fighting, the Lebanese army regained control of the camp's perimeter but clashes have continued for a second day. A planned two-hour ceasefire on Monday ended after just a few minutes, with clashes resuming before United Nations and Red Cross vehicles could enter the camp.
Troops have responded to grenade and gunfire from militants with tank and artillery fire. Medical workers have only been able to evacuate a few of the many injured civilians trapped inside the camp and water supplies have been hit in the clashes.
Civilians are trapped inside the camp, which houses around 30,000 displaced Palestinians, and conditions are said to be getting worse. The UN Secretary-General's special envoy, Terje Roed-Larson, condemned the violence as he met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after presenting a report on Lebanon to the UN Security Council.
The Red Cross has evacuated a number of injured people from the camp but more wounded are believed to be inside. "We both are deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon," Mr Roed-Larson said. "The recent violence there is of deep concern to both of us."
"The army shells which hit several houses in Nahr al-Bared have killed nine civilian refugees and wounded more than 70 others," an official at the Palestinian Medical Centre in the camp told the French news agency AFP. Bank robbers
Other Palestinian sources told Reuters news agency that the bombardment had killed eight civilians and wounded 20. Monday was the second day of the bloodiest internal fighting in Lebanon since the civil war ended 17 years ago.
Eyewitness: Tripoli fighting Send us your comments
The day before 50 people were killed at the camp, which houses about 40,000 Palestinian refugees.
More than 20 soldiers and 20 militants were killed, as well as an unconfirmed number of civilians, in clashes around the camp.
Sunday's clashes erupted when security forces tried to arrest suspects in a bank robbery. Militants from Fatah al-Islam then attacked army posts at the entrances to the camp.
After a day, the Lebanese army regained control of the camp's perimeter but clashes have continued.
Lebanon is clearly determined to eradicate Fatah al-Islam but the militant group is well armed, highly motivated and well dug in, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut.
Civilian casualties have not been confirmed by the Lebanese authorities which, under a 38-year-old deal, are not allowed to go into the camp.Civilian casualties have not been confirmed by the Lebanese authorities which, under a 38-year-old deal, are not allowed to go into the camp.
But a Lebanese army officer told the Associated Press news agency that troops had been ordered to strike at any target that directed fire back at them.
"Everything we know that they were present in has been targeted," he said.
Splinter group
Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom fled or left their homes when Israel was created in 1948.
More Lebanese troops were brought in as the fighting developedMore Lebanese troops were brought in as the fighting developed
The Nahr al-Bared camp has been under scrutiny since two bus bombings in a Christian area of Beirut in February, blamed on Fatah al-Islam militants based in the camp. Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom fled or left their homes when Israel was created in 1948.
Nahr al-Bared has been under scrutiny since two bus bombings in a Christian area of Beirut in February, blamed on Fatah al-Islam militants based in the camp.
Fatah al-Islam is a radical Palestinian splinter group alleged to have links with al-Qaeda. Lebanese officials also believe it has ties to Syrian intelligence. Other Palestinian groups have distanced themselves from Fatah al-Islam.Fatah al-Islam is a radical Palestinian splinter group alleged to have links with al-Qaeda. Lebanese officials also believe it has ties to Syrian intelligence. Other Palestinian groups have distanced themselves from Fatah al-Islam.
Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said that militants killed on Sunday included "key leaders who have carried out and have been planning to carry out large attacks".
One of the dead militants was wanted in Germany over an unsuccessful plot to blow up trains last July, Lebanese security officials said. Lebanese media described some of the dead as foreign fighters.
There are rival theories about what lies behind the latest violence, says the BBC's Roger Hardy.There are rival theories about what lies behind the latest violence, says the BBC's Roger Hardy.
Government ministers suspect Syria is behind the violence, with the aim of destabilising the country. Others see a quite separate radical Islamist agenda, our correspondent says.Government ministers suspect Syria is behind the violence, with the aim of destabilising the country. Others see a quite separate radical Islamist agenda, our correspondent says.