Lebanese soldiers patrol the main entrance of the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon May 21, 2007. Lebanese tanks shelled Islamist militants in a Palestinian refugee camp on Monday and at least nine civilians were killed, raising the death toll in two days of fighting to 66, security sources said. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Hamas leader in Syria demands safeguarding Palestinian refugees in Lebanese camp

   DAMASCUS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Exiled Hamas leader in Syria Khaled Meshaal on Monday demanded Lebanese forces to preserve the lives of Palestinian refugees in northern Lebanon where the forces fought the radical Palestinian faction of Fatah al-Islam for a second day. full story

UN chief calls for protection for civilians in Lebanon

    UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on all sides in Lebanon to protect civilians. full story

Syrian FM rejects any links to Fatah al-Islam militants

    DAMASCUS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Monday rejected accusations from Lebanese officials that his country had links to the radical Palestinian faction of Fatah al-Islam which fought Lebanese troops in northern Lebanon for a second day. full story

Moussa stresses political solution to realize stability in Lebanon

    CAIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa stressed on Monday that only dialogue and political solutions could resolve the Lebanese stand-off and realize stability there. full story

Germany calls for disarmament of Lebanese militants

    BERLIN, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Militant groups in Lebanon should be disarmed as early as possible so that the country can avoid a "renewed cycle of violence," a German Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday. full story

PLO expresses support for Lebanese army

    BEIRUT, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) representative in Lebanon Abbas Zaki on Monday pledged "cooperation" with the Lebanese state and its army to wipe out the militants fighting with the army in a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. full story

UN body expresses concern over situation in N Lebanon

    BEIRUT, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A UN body on Monday warned of a unfolding humanitarian crisis at the northern Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared where the Lebanese army is locked in battle with militants, which so far has left 57 dead. full story

Fighting in northern Lebanon enters second day

    BEIRUT, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The fighting between the Lebanese troops and militants around a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon entered the second day on Monday, after the violence on the previous day left at least 48 people dead, Arabia TV reported.

    The report also quoted military official as saying that the soldiers have tightened their grip around the Nahr el-Bared campin the northern city of Tripoli and were shelling positions of the Fatah al-Islam faction at the entrances of the camp. full story