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Clashes in Tripoli leave 10 dead | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
At least 10 people have been killed in clashes between Lebanese troops and suspected Islamic militants in the northern city of Tripoli. | |
Two civilians, one soldier, a policeman and at least six Islamist gunmen are said to have been killed in the fight. | |
It came after a the army raided an apartment of a suspected militant in the Abu Samra district on Saturday. | |
The clashes mark a shift in fighting away from the nearby Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp. | |
The latest violence began when gunmen fired at soldiers who were trying to raid their apartment, the Reuters news agency reported. | |
The army responded with an attack, blocking off the area and bringing in reinforcements. 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 | |
At least twelve people were wounded in the stand-off. | |
Earlier, four soldiers were killed in fighting with Islamist militants in the Nahr al-Bared camp. | |
A bomb killed three soldiers and a sniper shot dead another. | |
The army responded by shelling the militants, who are from the Fatah al-Islam group and have been besieged at the camp for more than a month. | |
A month of fighting has left more than 170 people dead, in Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975-90 civil war. | A month of fighting has left more than 170 people dead, in Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975-90 civil war. |
Out of bounds | Out of bounds |
Nahr al-Bared was home to 31,000 people before the fighting broke out. Approximately 2,000 refugees are still believed to be inside the camp. | Nahr al-Bared was home to 31,000 people before the fighting broke out. Approximately 2,000 refugees are still believed to be inside the camp. |
Large parts of the camp have been left in ruins after a bitter struggle that began in late May when the Lebanese army tried to arrest a number of alleged members of Fatah al-Islam. | Large parts of the camp have been left in ruins after a bitter struggle that began in late May when the Lebanese army tried to arrest a number of alleged members of Fatah al-Islam. |
Lebanon has 12 refugee camps housing more than 350,000 Palestinians, many of whom fled or were forced to leave their homes when Israel was created in 1948. | Lebanon has 12 refugee camps housing more than 350,000 Palestinians, many of whom fled or were forced to leave their homes when Israel was created in 1948. |
There is a long-standing convention that Lebanon's army does not go into the camps, leaving security inside to militant groups. | There is a long-standing convention that Lebanon's army does not go into the camps, leaving security inside to militant groups. |
The Lebanese government believes Fatah al-Islam is backed by Syrian intelligence, a claim Syria denies. | The Lebanese government believes Fatah al-Islam is backed by Syrian intelligence, a claim Syria denies. |
Syria has closed a border crossing in the north-east of Lebanon for "security" reasons. | Syria has closed a border crossing in the north-east of Lebanon for "security" reasons. |
Damascus closed two other crossings when fighting first broke out in the camp, also for safety reasons. Only the Masnaa crossing remains open. | Damascus closed two other crossings when fighting first broke out in the camp, also for safety reasons. Only the Masnaa crossing remains open. |