The fighting between the Lebanese army and Fatah al-Islam separatists on the outskirts of the Nahr al-Bared camp is continuing for a fifth week and has claimed the lives of at least 150 people.
Battles intensified Monday, with the army shelling and sending tanks into the camp. Lebanon's National News Agency said the army controlled 90% of Fatah al-Islam positions in Nahr al-Bared Sunday and had destroyed the group's headquarters.
The official news agency quoted Monday Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Michele Suleiman as saying the authorities were set to defeat the militants.
"Those terrorists have no other way out, but to lay down their arms and surrender to the authorities," the general said.
The fighting has compounded the bitter power struggle between Lebanon's pro-Western Siniora government and the Syrian-backed Hezbollah movement. Syria, which occupied Lebanon for 29 years, is suspected by Beirut of trying to re-exert its control over the fractured country by backing groups like Fatah al-Islam. Damascus denies the charges.
