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Battle rages on in Lebanese camp Lebanese militants call ceasefire
(about 1 hour later)
The Lebanese army has shelled Islamic militants inside a Palestinian refugee camp for a third consecutive day, despite appeals for a ceasefire. Islamist militants besieged by the Lebanese army inside a Palestinian refugee camp have called a ceasefire to try to end a third day of fighting.
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. A spokesman for the radical Fatah al-Islam group said it would observe a ceasefire from 1430 (1130 GMT) as long as the Lebanese army stopped shelling.
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 Nahr al-Bared camp and let aid supplies in.
Dozens of people have been killed in three days of fighting at the camp. Dozens of people have been killed at Nahr al-Bared at Tripoli since Sunday.
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. 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.On Sunday a 63-year-old woman was killed by a blast in a Christian district of Beirut.
'Last drop of blood' 'Open-ended' truce
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. Speaking to reporters 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.
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. "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."
More than 50 people have been killed in the clashes, which began on Sunday. 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.
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. "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".
Doctors in the camp, which houses some 31,000 Palestinian refugees, have also 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.Electricity supplies have been cut and there is limited water.
The Lebanese army has vowed to stop shelling if militants stop firing. Hoda Samra, a public information officer with UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, told the BBC news website her organisation had six trucks waiting outside the camp with water, milk and bread for the trapped inhabitants.
The group, which is suspected of having links with al-Qaeda, has in turn threatened to widen its campaign unless the bombardment ends. Syrian denial
"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.
There are probably only a few hundred militants involved, but they are clearly well entrenched and not short of weapons, our correspondent adds.
Internal 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 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, 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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