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Islamists killed in Lebanon clash | Islamists killed in Lebanon clash |
(20 minutes later) | |
Twenty Islamist militants have been killed by Lebanese government troops as they tried to flee a besieged refugee camp, army officials say. | Twenty Islamist militants have been killed by Lebanese government troops as they tried to flee a besieged refugee camp, army officials say. |
Two soldiers were also killed in the clash near the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon. | Two soldiers were also killed in the clash near the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon. |
The camp has seen fierce clashes between the army and Fatah al-Islam militants since May. | The camp has seen fierce clashes between the army and Fatah al-Islam militants since May. |
Thousands of refugees have fled the violence, which has seen more than 300 people killed, including civilians. | Thousands of refugees have fled the violence, which has seen more than 300 people killed, including civilians. |
Militants seized | Militants seized |
An army statement said the militants had staged a "desperate attempt to flee" the camp on Sunday, Reuters news agency reported. | An army statement said the militants had staged a "desperate attempt to flee" the camp on Sunday, Reuters news agency reported. |
FATAH AL-ISLAM Split from Palestinian group Fatah al-Intifada in late 2006In May, had 150-200 armed men in Nahr al-Bared campDenies al-Qaeda links but says it endorses its ideasHas links with Syrian intelligence, Lebanon saysLeader is Shaker al-Abssi Profile: Fatah al-Islam | |
The militants reportedly attacked at least two checkpoints outside Nahr al-Bared. | The militants reportedly attacked at least two checkpoints outside Nahr al-Bared. |
A number of militants were captured during the battle, army officials said. | A number of militants were captured during the battle, army officials said. |
The army has cordoned off the camp and blocked the main road leading to Syria. | |
Last week Lebanese security officials said they believed that only about 30 Fatah al-Islam fighters remained in the camp, though other reports put the number slightly higher. | Last week Lebanese security officials said they believed that only about 30 Fatah al-Islam fighters remained in the camp, though other reports put the number slightly higher. |
Much of the camp, which was once home to about 30,000 people, has been reduced to rubble by shelling from artillery and tanks during the fighting. | Much of the camp, which was once home to about 30,000 people, has been reduced to rubble by shelling from artillery and tanks during the fighting. |
The clashes have seen Lebanon's worst internal violence since the end of the civil war in 1990. | The clashes have seen Lebanon's worst internal violence since the end of the civil war in 1990. |
Fatah al-Islam, which has been linked to al-Qaeda, emerged in 2006 when it split from Fatah al-Intifada (Fatah Uprising), a Syrian-backed Palestinian group based in Lebanon. | Fatah al-Islam, which has been linked to al-Qaeda, emerged in 2006 when it split from Fatah al-Intifada (Fatah Uprising), a Syrian-backed Palestinian group based in Lebanon. |
The Lebanese government has also linked Fatah al-Islam to the Syrian intelligence services. Officials in Damascus and Fatah al-Islam deny the connection. | The Lebanese government has also linked Fatah al-Islam to the Syrian intelligence services. Officials in Damascus and Fatah al-Islam deny the connection. |