LEBANON: Lebanese minister says security situation inside Tripoli mostly under control but battle goes on in refugee camp

Lebanese minister says army is taking control of Fatah al-Islam's positions in northern Lebanon, but the militant group linked to al Qaeda warns it "will open gates of fire" if army action persists. The security situation inside the northern city of Tripoli, scene of deadly clashes between the army and Qaeda-linked Fatah al-Islam on Sunday (May 20), is almost under control but the battle rages on between the two sides inside Nahr El Bared refugee camp near the city, Lebanon's sports minister and former acting interior minister said. Fatah al Islam warned in a statement it will "open the gates of fire" in Lebanon and cautioned the army to take "provocative actions." The authenticity of the statement faxed to Reuters could not be immediately verified. Hundreds of Lebanese soldiers deployed at the entrance of the camp and its tanks continued to shell positions they believe to be manned by Fatah al Islam militants. The army had earlier stormed a building inside Tripoli occupied by Fatah al Islam militants. "Inside Tripoli, we have the situation under control by 80 to 90 percent. There are still two positions for Fateh al Islam but they are not effective," said Minister Ahmad Fatfat. "But the battle goes on in Nahr al Bared where the army is launching a counter attack against the militants," he added. Fatah al-Islam said the army had carried out an unjustified attack on its fighters, three of whom had been killed. Security sources have said four of the militants have been killed. "We warn the Lebanese army of the consequences of continuing the provocative acts against our mujahideen who will open the gates of fire ... against (the army) and against the whole of Lebanon," it's statement said. Security and medical sources said at least 19 people were killed in the clashes, 11 of them soldiers. The soldiers were killed at Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli and in an attack on an army patrol in al-Qalamoun, just south of the city, a security source said. Medical sources in the camp said four civilians, including two children, had also been killed and 45 wounded. The army had tightened its grip around Nahr al-Bared camp since authorities charged Fatah al-Islam members with two bus bombings in a Christian area near Beirut in February. Three civilians were killed by the bombs.

ITN Source | May 21, 2007

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