LOC16:35
13:35 GMT
BEIRUT, May 20 (KUNA) -- The Lebanese army said clashes were still underway
in northern Lebanon with the Fatah Al-Islam fighters, with the casualty count
still rising on both sides.
In a first official statement, the Army said Sunday its checkpoints around
the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr Al-Bared near Tripoli were assaulted
shortly after a security raid started against one of the buildings in the city.
Army vehicles transporting troops and material were later ambushed near the
Qalamoun area in the north as well leaving more casualties on the army side,
the army statement said.
"The army is now giving chase to the gunmen and gradually restoring law and
order to the city and its suburbs," the statement said.
In a related development, several Lebanese officials condemned the attacks
by Fatah Al-Islam against the army describing them as criminal and undermining
the country's domestic stability.
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud strongly condemned the attacks and called
on regular law and order forces to face up to them no matter what group they
belonged to and "prevent them from undermining the security and stability of
the north."
Lahoud, in a statement issued by his office, paid tribute to the law and
order forces for their courageous resistance to the group. He wished the
injured quick recovery.
For his part, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Al-Siniora also condemned the
attacks describing them as an "attempt to undermine the security of Lebanon
and the Lebanese by a misled group hiding behind Islam, while the Muslim faith
has nothing to do with it."
The prime minister accused the group of using nationalist slogans to
mislead the public and called on the Lebanese people to "wake up to the grave
schemes being plotted against them."
He called on all the Lebanese to stand as one behind Lebanese law and order
forces, specifically the army and Internal Security Forces, "who are facing up
to this criminal conspiracy."
Al-Siniora said the army has, once again, shown its reliability and ability
to preserve national security.
Other condemnations of the attacks came from Speaker of Parliament Nabih
Berri, who described the unrest as "an attempt to undermine national unity."
Sunni Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Rashid Qabbani, described the clashes
as an attempt to sow seeds of strife "in the lead-up to the international
tribunal," due to be launched by UN Security Council before the end of this
month to prosecute those involved in the murder of former Lebanese prime
minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005.(end)
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KUNA 201635 May 07NNNN