LEBANON: Lebanese troops battles militants linked to al Qaeda in northern Lebanon and 10 killed

Record ID: 375334

  • Title: LEBANON: Lebanese troops battles militants linked to al Qaeda in northern Lebanon and 10 killed
  • Date: 20th May 2007
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF BODY ON THE GROUND
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA7KR9VLQVHROULB7GPDDYRZG23
  • Story Text: Lebanese troops battled militants linked to al Qaeda in northern Lebanon on Sunday (May 20) and at least 10 people were killed, seven of them soldiers, security sources said.
    Three soldiers were killed at the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in clashes with militant faction Fatah al-Islam -- a group which the Lebanese government claims has links to Syria.
    Three Fatah al-Islam fighters had been killed in the camp, which is home to 40,000 Palestinian refugees and near the northern port city of Tripoli, a senior security official said. The militants also attacked an army patrol in the Koura region of northern Lebanon, killing four soldiers.
    The army had tightened its grip around Nahr al-Bared camp since authorities charged Fatah al-Islam members with carrying out twin bus bombings in a Christian area near Beirut in February. Three civilians were killed by the bombs.
    Sport and Youth Minister Ahmad Fatfat said Sunday's attacks aimed to send a warning against steps by the U.N. Security Council to set up an international tribunal for suspects in the 2005 killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.
    The coalition of Lebanese leaders who control government accuse Syria of the killing. Damascus denies involvement and links to Fatah al-Islam.
    The United States, France and Britain last week circulated a draft U.N. resolution that would unilaterally set up the court.
    The rattle of assault rifles and machine guns could be heard, and thuds from explosions rocked the Nahr al-Bared area after the fighting broke out before dawn. Residents were trapped indoors and movement in the camp was dangerous.
    The army sent in reinforcements to outskirts of camp.
    An army statement said Fatah al-Islam members had attacked army posts around the camp and in northern Tripoli. The army is not allowed into the camp under a 38-year-old agreement with the Palestinian leadership.
    Security forces also clashed with gunmen in Tripoli itself while trying to arrest Fatah al-Islam members suspected of robbing a bank on Saturday, officials said. Four members of the security forces were wounded in the clashes in Lebanon's third largest city, security sources said.
    Fatah al-Islam statements have appeared on Islamist Web sites known to publish al Qaeda statements. The group was formed last year by fighters who broke off from the pro-Syrian Fatah Uprising group.
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