LEBANON:A senior member of Lebanon's governing coalition has said that military action is not on the table for ending a standoff between the Lebanese army and militants holed up in a Palestinian refugee camp.
Druze leader Walid Jumblatt has demanded the handing over of the Fatah al-Islam Islamist militants, who have been battling the army at the Nahr al-Bared camp for a week in Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975- 1990 civil war. "Nobody has proposed a military settlement, but we want the murderers handed over to Lebanese justice," Mr Jumblatt said yesterday.
The army is not allowed into Lebanon's 12 Palestinian refugee camps under a 1969 Arab agreement. Lebanese troops have been unable to deal the militants a decisive blow from their positions around the camp.
The fighting has forced thousands to flee Nahr al-Bared, usually home to 40,000. At least 78 people have been killed, including 33 soldiers, 27 militants and 18 civilians. Lebanese leaders have vowed to stamp out Fatah al- Islam but have also given a chance to mediators to end the standoff. The group is led by a Palestinian but has little support among Palestinians in Lebanon, who number about 400,000.
The main Palestinian factions have been in extensive talks to end the fighting. Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said there was consensus that the standoff needed a political solution.
"We are convinced that the military solution cannot end this phenomenon," said Islamic Jihad representative Abu Emad al-Refaie.
Fatah al-Islam's fighters include Arabs from Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Syria and Tunisia, Lebanese authorities say. Members of Lebanon's governing coalition say the group is a tool of Syrian intelligence, which Syria denies.
The fighting was triggered a week ago when the army says Fatah al-Islam attacked its positions around the camp and near the northern city of Tripoli. The group says it has been acting in self defence.