- Title: LEBANON: Lebanese PM vows to root out terrorism as camp truce holds
- Date: 25th May 2007
- Summary: RED CROSS EMBLEM ON SIDE OF CAR
- Embargoed: 9th June 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Lebanon
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA7UL6VOXFY06XYADODZXMEZACJ
- Story Text: Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said on Thursday (May 24) he would work to root out terrorism after fighting between the Lebanese army and Islamist militants in north Lebanon this week triggered the worst internal violence since the country's 15-year civil war.
In a televised speech to the nation, Siniora said the army had been the victim of a "terrorist organisation" in reference to the al-Qaeda inspired Fatah al-Islam Islamist group, which has made its base in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared, near the northern port of Tripoli.
"No one should try to come between the Lebanese state and people. They are our dear brothers under all circumstances. But we have to distinguish between terrorists who are hiding behind the Palestinians' suffering and our brothers in the camps," said Siniora.
Earlier, Siniora met France's new Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, in Beirut to lend support to the government as it considered its next move.
Lebanon has also been rocked by three explosions this week that killed one woman and wounded several other people. The latest bomb exploded in the Druze town of Aley in the Chouf Mountains, east of the Lebanese capital. Five people were wounded late on Wednesday (May 23) after a suitcase packed with explosives blew up in the street.
A fragile truce between the army and Sunni militants holed up in the Nahr al-Bared camp was holding, allowing thousands of Palestinian refugees to flee from the camp.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it does not know how many refugees are left inside the camp, but ICRC official Virginia Della Guardia tolf Reuters: "What we can say is that there are people who are sick, who need a specific medication for chronic diseases. So we need to bring medical supplies inside the camp."
Aid convoys came under attack on Monday (May 21), shortly after the informal ceasefire was supposed to begin, and the truce has been regularly interrupted by exchanges of fire.
The Lebanese army has tightened its stranglehold around the camp.
Defence Minister Elias al-Murr warned that military intervention in the camp could be imminent if the Islamist fighters did not surrender.
Scores have been killed since fighting erupted on Sunday.
In Tripoli, which saw some of Sunday's clashes, hundreds of Lebanese took part on Thursday (May 24) in the funeral of an Islamist activist.
Lebanese security forces said Bilal Mahmoud, known as Abu Jandal, was shot as he was being pursued in connection with a bank robbery in Tripoli last week.
Residents say Abu Jandal had nothing to do with the robbery, which security forces said Fatah al-Islam was behind.
The robbery on Saturday (May 19) subsequently led to the clashes between Fatah al-Islam and the army.
Newspaper reports said Abu Jandal was a member of Fatah al-Islam but residents denied it.
Palestinians were still trickling out of Nahr al-Bared camp on Thursday. Thousands have taken shelter in the nearby Beddawi refugee camp, where they have been provided with bread and other basic supplies.
Up to 400,000 displaced Palestinians live in camps in Lebanon that were set up when the state of Israel was created in 1948. Under an Arab League agreement, the Lebanese army is not allowed to enter Palestinian refugee camps.
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