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Fighting in Lebanon at a decisive stage

Atul Aneja

Troops are trying to cut off escape routes

DUBAI: Fighting between the Lebanese army and the Islamist militants holed up inside a Palestinian refugee camp appears to be reaching a decisive stage.

The Lebanese military sources have been quoted as saying the army now stands at a distance of around 150 meters from a building where Shaker Abssi, the top leader of the militant group Fatah Al Islam has been trapped. Using heavy weapons including artillery guns and tanks, the army has demolished some tall buildings in the camp from where snipers were operating.

For the first time on Saturday, a military helicopter fired two missiles inside the camp. Casualties have been high, with 42 militants dying during intense fighting on Friday. The Army has lost 38 men since fighting around the Nahr Al-Bared refugee camp began 13 days ago.

Civilians not targeted

Out of the nearly 30,000 residents, around 3,000 are residing in the camp, while the rest have moved to different locations outside. The army said it had so far not targeted the southern part of the camp where there had been a maximum concentration of civilians. The Lebanese security forces are pounding the camp from land and sea.

Ground troops that have been deployed are trying to cut off escape routes from the camp. Behind the camp, closer to the Syrian border, are high mountains. Militants seeking an escape are likely to move in that direction. However, Fatah Al Islam leaders have said that they would fight to the last man.

With pressure on the militants mounting, a known Al-Qaeda leader has called for support for the militant group. "Islamists, rise up and aid your brothers in Nahr al-Bared. This is your religious duty," said the statement, signed by Mohammad Hakaima. Mr. Hakaima's call was posted on a website frequently used by Al-Qaeda. Several foreign fighters — some from the Gulf countries are reportedly among the ranks of the militants. The mainstream Palestinian group, Fatah has not objected to the military action that has been mounted on Nahr Al-Bared.

Abbas Zaki, the head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in Lebanon told reporters on Saturday that the camp was more like "a hijacked plane or ship. It has been hijacked by Fatah al-Islam which does not represent the Palestinian people." He made these comments after meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

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