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New US military aid for Lebanon | New US military aid for Lebanon |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US military planes have delivered more equipment to the Lebanese army, as its stand-off with Islamic militants at a Palestinian refugee camp continued. | US military planes have delivered more equipment to the Lebanese army, as its stand-off with Islamic militants at a Palestinian refugee camp continued. |
Lebanese PM Fouad Siniora again called on Sunni militants inside the camp to surrender or face army action. | |
He was speaking after the leader of Shia militant group Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, said Lebanon should not be part of a US war on al-Qaeda. | He was speaking after the leader of Shia militant group Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, said Lebanon should not be part of a US war on al-Qaeda. |
The confrontation at the Nahr al-Bared camp is now in its seventh day. | |
Mr Siniora would not say whether a decision had been taken for the army to go into the camp, but plane-loads of American military supplies continue to arrive, apparently in preparation for just such a battle, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Beirut. | Mr Siniora would not say whether a decision had been taken for the army to go into the camp, but plane-loads of American military supplies continue to arrive, apparently in preparation for just such a battle, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Beirut. |
"We want to end this situation," Mr Siniora told the BBC's Arabic service. | "We want to end this situation," Mr Siniora told the BBC's Arabic service. |
"Either they surrender themselves to Lebanese justice... or else the Lebanese authorities will be forced to take the decision to let the army deal with this matter." | "Either they surrender themselves to Lebanese justice... or else the Lebanese authorities will be forced to take the decision to let the army deal with this matter." |
Mr Siniora strongly criticised remarks by Sheikh Nasrallah, who on Friday warned that if the army stormed the camp it could spark a new cycle of violence in Lebanon. | Mr Siniora strongly criticised remarks by Sheikh Nasrallah, who on Friday warned that if the army stormed the camp it could spark a new cycle of violence in Lebanon. |
Sheikh Nasrallah said the conflict could be solved politically and should not escalate, adding the Lebanese should not allow themselves to become entangled with al-Qaeda on behalf of the US. | Sheikh Nasrallah said the conflict could be solved politically and should not escalate, adding the Lebanese should not allow themselves to become entangled with al-Qaeda on behalf of the US. |
The prime minister said Mr Nasrallah's comments were tantamount to support for the militants. | The prime minister said Mr Nasrallah's comments were tantamount to support for the militants. |
"In short, it's almost... as if that amounts to justifying the [Islamic militant] Fatah al-Islam movement. Islam itself is innocent of that. And the Palestinian cause is also innocent of that," he said. | "In short, it's almost... as if that amounts to justifying the [Islamic militant] Fatah al-Islam movement. Islam itself is innocent of that. And the Palestinian cause is also innocent of that," he said. |
Trapped refugees | Trapped refugees |
Clashes between the Sunni militants, alleged to have links to al-Qaeda, and the Lebanese army have left dozens dead. | Clashes between the Sunni militants, alleged to have links to al-Qaeda, and the Lebanese army have left dozens dead. |
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: Refugees flee Profile: Fatah al-Islam | 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: Refugees flee Profile: Fatah al-Islam |
Thousands of people have fled the refugee camp, near Tripoli, as aid workers struggle to deliver food and medicine to thousands still inside. | |
Several truck-loads of aid were delivered on Saturday and a few Palestinians brought out by ambulance, our correspondent adds. | Several truck-loads of aid were delivered on Saturday and a few Palestinians brought out by ambulance, our correspondent adds. |
At least 50 soldiers and militants have been killed in the fighting at the camp so far. The civilian death toll is not known. | At least 50 soldiers and militants have been killed in the fighting at the camp so far. The civilian death toll is not known. |
The fighting at the camp is the bloodiest internal conflict in Lebanon since the civil war ended 17 years ago. | The fighting at the camp is the bloodiest internal conflict in Lebanon since the civil war ended 17 years ago. |
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