‘More than 5 000 families flee refugee camp’

TRIPOLI- A majority of families from a besieged Palestinian refugee camp caught in the crossfire between Islamic militants and the Lebanese army have fled the crowded camp but thousands of people remain trapped inside, a UN official said yesterday.

The Nahr al-Bared camp, located near the outskirts of this northern Lebanon port city, was calm yesterday after sporadic gunfire overnight between the army and Fatah Islam militants inside punctured a four-day-old truce. Hoda al-Turk, a spokeswoman for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, known as UNRWA, said more than 5 000 refugee families – or about 25 000 refugees – have left the camp, which is home to about 31 000 people, since the fighting began one week ago.A majority of the families have fled to the nearby Beddawi refugee camp, while others are staying in Tripoli and other villages, she said.The families have escaped the violent and deteriorating conditions inside Nahr al-Bared amid the defiant standoff between the army and militants.In a videotape obtained Saturday by Al-Jazeera, the head of the Fatah Islam, Shaker Youssef al-Absi, said his fighters would not surrender but would kill those who storm the camp.”We wish to die for the sake of God …Sunni people are the spearhead against the Zionist Americans,” said the bearded leader, who is suspected of having ties to al Qaeda.He was shown seated before a black banner, as another militant holding a machine gun stood next to him.Another videotape, obtained by AP Television News in Tripoli, showed alleged Fatah Islam militants training at an unidentified location in the Nahr al-Bared camp.The footage, which could not be independently verified and whose date was not known, showed several militants carrying automatic rifles and running through an obstacle course.The Lebanese government has vowed to crush the militants.Nampa-APHoda al-Turk, a spokeswoman for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, known as UNRWA, said more than 5 000 refugee families – or about 25 000 refugees – have left the camp, which is home to about 31 000 people, since the fighting began one week ago.A majority of the families have fled to the nearby Beddawi refugee camp, while others are staying in Tripoli and other villages, she said.The families have escaped the violent and deteriorating conditions inside Nahr al-Bared amid the defiant standoff between the army and militants.In a videotape obtained Saturday by Al-Jazeera, the head of the Fatah Islam, Shaker Youssef al-Absi, said his fighters would not surrender but would kill those who storm the camp.”We wish to die for the sake of God …Sunni people are the spearhead against the Zionist Americans,” said the bearded leader, who is suspected of having ties to al Qaeda.He was shown seated before a black banner, as another militant holding a machine gun stood next to him.Another videotape, obtained by AP Television News in Tripoli, showed alleged Fatah Islam militants training at an unidentified location in the Nahr al-Bared camp.The footage, which could not be independently verified and whose date was not known, showed several militants carrying automatic rifles and running through an obstacle course.The Lebanese government has vowed to crush the militants.Nampa-AP