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Aid convoy under fire in Lebanon Aid convoy under fire in Lebanon
(about 1 hour later)
A UN aid convoy which entered the Nahr al-Bared camp in northern Lebanon has been forced to leave after shells exploded near the convoy. A UN aid convoy which entered the Nahr al-Bared camp in northern Lebanon has been forced to leave after shells exploded near its vehicles.
Fighting seems to have resumed between Islamist militants besieged by the Lebanese army in the Palestinian refugee camp. Fighting has resumed between Islamist militants besieged by the Lebanese army in the Palestinian refugee camp despite a ceasefire declared by the militants.
This is despite an earlier ceasefire declared by the militants.
Six lorries went into the camp during a lull, carrying food, water, medical supplies and an electricity generator.Six lorries went into the camp during a lull, carrying food, water, medical supplies and an electricity generator.
Some reports say there were casualties. There are reports of injuries and it is not clear if the aid was delivered.
The head of a hospital in a nearby Palestinian refugee camp, Dr Youssef Asaad, told the BBC ambulances had also been able to take 12 wounded civilians to hospitals outside the camp. About 31,000 civilians are trapped in the camp in deteriorating conditions. Dozens have been killed since the violence erupted on Sunday.
He appealed to the Lebanese army and the militants to give medical organisations the chance to evacuate more of the wounded. An eyewitness told the BBC he had seen the dead and wounded lying in the streets.
About 31,000 civilians are trapped in the camp in deteriorating conditions. Dozens have been killed since Sunday. The head of a hospital in a nearby Palestinian refugee camp, Dr Youssef Asaad, told the BBC that ambulances had been able to take 13 wounded civilians to hospitals outside the camp.
Doctors in the camp had been calling for a ceasefire because of the dead and wounded lying on the streets. Electricity supplies have been cut and there is limited water. He appealed to the Lebanese army and the militants to give medical organisations the chance to evacuate more of the injured.
'Open-ended' truce'Open-ended' truce
Speaking earlier on Tuesday after another morning of intense clashes between his group and Lebanese troops, Fatah al-Islam spokesman Abu Salim said it was willing to abide by a truce. The Lebanese army and members of the militant group Fatah al-Islam, who are inside the camp, have been exchanging heavy fire for a third day.
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 In pictures: Lebanon fighting Profile: Fatah al-Islam Media: Pressure on LebanonFATAH 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 In pictures: Lebanon fighting Profile: Fatah al-Islam Media: Pressure on Lebanon
"We are giving a chance for calm and a ceasefire from 1430," he told Reuters. "It is open-ended if the army commits to it as well." The BBC's Jon Leyne in Beirut says there was a brief ceasefire but the fighting never completely stopped and now it is back to full force.
Speaking earlier on Tuesday Fatah al-Islam spokesman Abu Salim said his group was willing to abide by a truce from 1430 (1130 GMT).
"We are giving a chance for calm and a ceasefire... It is open-ended if the army commits to it as well," he said.
The Lebanese military said it would not commit to a formal ceasefire, but reiterated that its forces would not be the first to open fire.The Lebanese military said it would not commit to a formal ceasefire, but reiterated that its forces would not be the first to open fire.
"We only return fire when we are fired upon. If there is no firing at us, we will not return fire," a military source said."We only return fire when we are fired upon. If there is no firing at us, we will not return fire," a military source said.
On Monday evening, Lebanon's Cabinet authorised the army to step up its efforts and "end the terrorist phenomenon that is alien to the values and nature of the Palestinian people".On Monday evening, Lebanon's Cabinet authorised the army to step up its efforts and "end the terrorist phenomenon that is alien to the values and nature of the Palestinian people".
There are fears the violence may spread. On Monday night a bomb exploded in a mainly Sunni area of the capital, Beirut, injuring at least six people.
On Sunday a 63-year-old woman was killed by a blast in a Christian district of Beirut.
Syrian denialSyrian denial
Overnight, US President George W Bush said the Islamists needed to be stopped. Overnight, US President George W Bush accused the Islamists of "trying to topple the young democracy" and said they needed to be "reined in".
"Extremists that are trying to topple that young democracy need to be reined in," he said.
Eyewitness: Tripoli fighting Send us your commentsEyewitness: Tripoli fighting Send us your comments
Lebanese Trade Minister Sami Haddad told the BBC his government suspected Syria of masterminding the violence. Lebanese Trade Minister Sami Haddad told the BBC his government suspected Syria of masterminding the violence in an attempt to destabilise the government.
"These people are trying to destabilise a democratically elected government," he said. Syria's ambassador to the UN, Bashar Jaafari, has denied his country has any link to the group, and said some of them had been in jail in Syria for their support for al-Qaeda.
"We are faced with international terrorism that has attacked Europe, the Middle East and Arab countries before."
Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, has denied his country has any link to the group, and said some of them had been in jail in Syria for their support for al-Qaeda.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, is meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Beirut to discuss the fighting - the bloodiest internal conflict in Lebanon since the civil war ended 17 years ago.The European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, is meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Beirut to discuss the fighting - the bloodiest internal conflict in Lebanon since the civil war ended 17 years ago.
The clashes erupted when security forces tried to arrest suspects in a bank robbery. Militants from Fatah al-Islam, a radical Palestinian splinter group, then attacked army posts at the entrances to the camp.The clashes erupted when security forces tried to arrest suspects in a bank robbery. Militants from Fatah al-Islam, a radical Palestinian splinter group, then attacked army posts at the entrances to 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.Lebanon is home to more than 350,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom fled or left their homes when Israel was created in 1948.
Are you in the Tripoli area? Have you been caught up in the fighting? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:Are you in the Tripoli area? Have you been caught up in the fighting? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
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