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Lebanon fighting enters third day Battle rages on in Lebanese camp
(about 2 hours later)
Fighting has resumed between the Lebanese army and Islamist militants taking refuge in a Palestinian refugee camp, despite talk of a ceasefire. The Lebanese army has shelled Islamic militants inside a Palestinian refugee camp for a third consecutive day, despite appeals for a ceasefire.
Troops have surrounded the Nahr al-Bared camp, near Tripoli, but the militants say they are entrenched and are ready to fight to the end.Troops have surrounded the Nahr al-Bared camp, near Tripoli, but the militants say they are entrenched and are ready to fight to the end.
Humanitarian groups have called for a truce to let casualties out of the camp and allow humanitarian supplies in.Humanitarian groups have called for a truce to let casualties out of the camp and allow humanitarian supplies in.
During the night a bomb exploded in Beirut, injuring at least six people. Dozens of people have been killed in three days of fighting at the camp.
The second attack in less than two days targeted a shopping area in the mainly Sunni Muslim area of Verdun. On Monday night a bomb exploded in a mainly Sunni area of Beirut, injuring at least six people - the second attack in less than two days.
On Sunday a 63-year-old woman was killed by a blast in a Christian district of Beirut.On Sunday a 63-year-old woman was killed by a blast in a Christian district of Beirut.
'Last drop of blood''Last drop of blood'
After a few hours' lull at the start of the night, fighting resumed for a third day when Lebanese tanks and artillery began shelling the members of the radical Fatah al-Islam group taking refuge in the camp. After a few hours' lull at the start of the night, fighting resumed when Lebanese tanks and artillery began shelling the members of the radical Fatah al-Islam group taking refuge in 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 In pictures: Lebanon fighting Profile: Fatah al-Islam Media see Syrian handFATAH 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 see Syrian hand
The battle intensified by mid-morning, with heavy exchanges of small arms and machine-gun fire.The battle intensified by mid-morning, with heavy exchanges of small arms and machine-gun fire.
More than 50 people have been killed in the clashes, which began on Sunday.More than 50 people have been killed in the clashes, which began on Sunday.
Doctors in the camp, which houses some 31,000 Palestinian refugees, have called for a ceasefire because of the dead and wounded lying on the streets.Doctors in the camp, which houses some 31,000 Palestinian refugees, have called for a ceasefire because of the dead and wounded lying on the streets.
Electricity supplies have been cut and there is limited water.Electricity supplies have been cut and there is limited water.
The Lebanese army has vowed to stop shelling if militants stop firing.The Lebanese army has vowed to stop shelling if militants stop firing.
The group, which is suspected of having links with al-Qaeda, has in turn threatened to widen its campaign unless the bombardment ends.The group, which is suspected of having links with al-Qaeda, has in turn threatened to widen its campaign unless the bombardment ends.
"Our fighters are ready to fight until the last drop of blood," a spokesman for Fatah al-Islam told AFP news agency."Our fighters are ready to fight until the last drop of blood," a spokesman for Fatah al-Islam told AFP news agency.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Tripoli says it is not clear whether either side is trying to stage an advance.The BBC's Jim Muir in Tripoli says it is not clear whether either side is trying to stage an advance.
There are probably only a few hundred militants involved, but they are clearly well entrenched and not short of weapons, our correspondent adds.There are probably only a few hundred militants involved, but they are clearly well entrenched and not short of weapons, our correspondent adds.
Internal conflictInternal conflict
Overnight, US President George W Bush said the Islamists needed to be stopped.Overnight, US President George W Bush said the Islamists needed to be stopped.
"Extremists that are trying to topple that young democracy need to be reined in," he said."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.
"These people are trying to destabilise a democratically elected government," he said."These people are trying to destabilise a democratically elected government," he said.
"We are faced with international terrorism that has attacked Europe, the Middle East and Arab countries before.""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 had any link to the group, and said some of them had been in jail in Syria for their support for al-Qaeda.Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, has denied his country had 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, will meet Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Beirut later on Tuesday 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, will meet Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora in Beirut later on Tuesday 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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