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May 24, 2007

Lebanese PM Vows to Uproot Islamic Terrorists in Refugee Camp
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1798ED7:A6F02AD83191E160488329040D00CBB89574F7DCC14957C0 Fuad Siniora says
Lebanese army has been victim of 'terrorist organization'





Fuad Siniora (file photo)Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has
vowed to eradicate terrorism after fierce fighting between the
Lebanese army and militants in a Palestinian refugee camp.

In a nationally televised speech Thursday, Mr. Siniora said the
Lebanese army had been a victim of a "terrorist organization." He said
"we will work to eradicate terrorism, but we will protect our
Palestinian brothers."

On Wednesday, Lebanon's Defense Minister Elias Murr issued an
ultimatum to the Fatah al-Islam militants holed up in the Nahr
al-Bared camp, saying they must surrender or face further military
action.

The militants say they will abide by the truce announced Tuesday, but
will not surrender and will fight if attacked.

About 75 people - soldiers, militants and civilians - have been killed
since the fighting began Sunday.

Lebanese military officials say troops also sank two small boats the
militants were using to escape the besieged camp on Tuesday.

Relief workers say as many as half of some 30,000 residents of the
camp have fled since the fragile truce went into effect. Most headed
to the nearby Lebanese city of Tripoli and another Palestinian refugee
camp, Beddawi.

In other news, the new French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, is
expected to visit Beirut Thursday for talks with Mr. Siniora and other
senior officials, including the speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri.

The battles on the outskirts of Tripoli are said to be the worst
internal fighting since Lebanon's 15-year civil war ended in 1990.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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