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Fighting rages in Lebanese camp Fighting rages in Lebanese camp
(about 7 hours later)
Intense fighting is raging between troops and Islamist militants at a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. Intense fighting has raged for a second day between troops and Islamic militants at a Palestinian refugee camp near the Lebanese city of Tripoli.
At least nine civilians have died in the clashes at Nahr al-Bared camp, near Tripoli, officials there said. At least nine civilians died during clashes at the Nahr al-Bared camp, home to some 40,000 Palestinian refugees.
Thick plumes of smoke are choking the sky over the camp as soldiers attack the militants with tanks and artillery. Thick plumes of black smoke clogged the skies over the camp as night fell after a day of shelling and artillery fire.
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. The army vowed to stop shelling Fatah al-Islam, suspected of links to al-Qaeda and Syria, if it stops firing.
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. Sources said militants had pledged to withdraw from positions facing Lebanese troops after negotiations with Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, although sporadic fire continued despite the reported truce.
"If this continues, we will carry the battle outside the city of Tripoli." The Fatah al-Islam group had threatened to widen its campaign unless the Lebanese army stopped the shelling.
Failed ceasefireFailed ceasefire
Red Cross officials have appealed for a truce to let aid agencies reach those worst affected by the violence.Red Cross officials have appealed for a truce to let aid agencies reach those worst affected by the violence.
The BBC's Jim Muir, in Beirut, says that in addition to the desperate need for medical relief within the camp, electricity supplies have been cut and there is limited water.
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
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.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.
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. Medical workers have only been able to evacuate 16 of the many injured civilians and sick trapped inside the camp.
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 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.
"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." US President George W Bush told Reuters that the Islamists needed to be stopped, "Extremists that are trying to topple that young democracy need to be reined in," he said.
He added that he was not going to accuse Syria of being involved in this particular conflict until he had better information.
Syria's ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, 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.
In a separate incident on Monday, a bomb exploded in an upmarket area of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, injuring at least six people.
Bank robbersBank robbers
The fighting, which began on Monday, is the bloodiest internal conflict in Lebanon since the civil war ended 17 years ago.The fighting, which began on Monday, is the bloodiest internal conflict in Lebanon since the civil war ended 17 years ago.
Eyewitness: Tripoli fighting Send us your commentsEyewitness: Tripoli fighting Send us your comments
On Sunday, 50 people were killed at the camp, which houses about 40,000 Palestinian refugees.On Sunday, 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.
The 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.The 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.
The Lebanese army regained control of the camp's perimeter but clashes have continued.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. Lebanon is clearly determined to eradicate Fatah al-Islam but the militant group is well armed, highly motivated and well dug in, our correspondent says.
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.
More Lebanese troops were brought in as the fighting developedMore Lebanese troops were brought in as the fighting developed
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.
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.
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.
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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