This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6974708.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Islamists killed in Lebanon clash Islamists killed in Lebanon clash
(about 3 hours 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 troops as they tried to flee a besieged Palestinian refugee camp, the army has said.
Two soldiers were also killed in the clash near the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon. Two soldiers also died in fighting outside the Nahr al-Bared camp, in one of the deadliest clashes since fighting between the two sides began in May.
The camp has seen fierce clashes between the army and Fatah al-Islam militants since May. The army said its stand-off with Fatah al-Islam gunmen was nearly over, the AFP news agency reported.
Thousands of refugees have fled the violence, which has seen more than 300 people killed, including civilians. More than 300 people, including civilians, have died in the fighting.
Militants seized Thousands of refugees have fled the camp, much of which has been reduced to rubble by shelling from artillery and tanks.
"The militants of Fatah al-Islam attacked army positions in a desperate attempt to flee Nahr al-Bared camp," the army said in a statement. 'Desperate attempt'
An army spokesman told the BBC that 20 Fatah al-Islam fighters were killed and at least 10 captured on Sunday.
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-IslamFATAH 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 the camp. The spokesman said that two Lebanese soldiers were also killed.
A number of militants were captured during the battle, army officials said. It was not immediately known if any of the militants had managed to escape. In a statement, the army said that "the militants of Fatah al-Islam attacked army positions in a desperate attempt to flee Nahr al-Bared camp".
The militants reportedly attacked at least two checkpoints outside the camp. It was not immediately known if any of the militants had managed to escape.
The army has cordoned off the area and blocked the main road leading to Syria. Helicopters have been called in to search the area.The army has cordoned off the area and blocked the main road leading to Syria. Helicopters have been called in to search the area.
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. Nahr al-Bared was once home to about 30,000 people, but most of the refugees have fled the violence.
The clashes have seen Lebanon's worst internal violence since the end of the civil war in 1990. The BBC's Richard Colebourn in Beirut says that 155 soldiers, 120 militants and 42 civilians have died so far in what has been the worst internal violence in Lebanon 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.