Lebanese soldier killed in battle with Islamists

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2007

NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon (AFP) — A Lebanese soldier was killed on Monday in a battle with an Islamist militia besieged for more than 12 weeks inside a Palestinian refugee camp, the army said.

The latest fighting comes after the Lebanese army on Sunday rejected a conditional offer of surrender by the Al-Qaeda inspired Fatah al-Islam group and demanded that the militants give themselves up to stand trial.

The soldier's death brought to 136 the number of troops killed at Nahr al-Bared camp since fighting between the army and Fatah al-Islam began on May 20, according to a new toll given Monday by the army.

"The army has tightened its grip on the remaining terrorists and is advancing cautiously by demining the ground and clearing the rubble from the area which it...