Fighting continues at two camps in Lebanon

Jun 04,2007 00:00 by UPI

SIDON, Lebanon -- Two Lebanese soldiers died Monday at one of two refugee camps where government troops are fighting militants.

Alalam Satellite TV reported that six Lebanese Army soldiers, two civilians and three militants were injured in fighting Monday near the Ein al-Helweh camp in southern Lebanon.

About half of Lebanon's 400,000 Palestinian refugees live at the camp, where fighting broke out Saturday.

Fighting continued Monday in northern Lebanon at the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, where Fatah al-Islam militants refused to surrender.

"We will never surrender. ... We will fight till the last drop of blood," Fatah al-Islam spokesman Abu Salim Taha said at the northern Lebanon camp, Alalam reported.

About 100 people have died since fighting erupted between government troops and militants last month at the northern Lebanon camp, Alalam reported.

The Red Cross asked combatants to spare civilians while area clerics tried to mediate an end to the fighting.