Fighting between the Lebanese army and Islamist gunmen flared again on Wednesday as their deadly standoff entered its 11th day and aid workers sent in more supplies to stranded civilians.
According to AFP, the army reported several exchanges of fire on Wednesday but without any fresh casualties at Nahr al-Bared camp. The militants "holed up on the rooftops of apartment buildings, opened fire several times at positions set up on the perimetre of the camp by the army, which responded with cannon fire", an army spokesman said.
On Tuesday, a Lebanese soldier was killed in a firefight, bringing to 79 the death toll from the bloody unrest.
Meanwhile, a judicial source said Lebanese authorities on Wednesday started legal proceedings in a military tribunal against 20 Fatah al-Islam members, claiming they committed "acts of terrorism" while fighting Lebanese troops. The group is made up of 18 Lebanese nationals and two Syrians, the source said, adding that if charged and convicted they could face the death sentence.
The suspects were arrested in north Lebanon after the breakout of the clashes. The suspects were among nearly 100 people rounded up by security agencies for possible affiliation with Fatah al-Islam.
