Lebanese army steps up attack against militants

Beirut: Concern for the welfare of some 40,000 Palestinians civilians trapped in Nahr Al-Bared refugee camp heightened as the Lebanese army stepped up its attack against militants from the group Fatah Al Islam, who are hiding in the camp.

After a brief nighttime lull in the worst in-fighting Lebanon has witnessed since the civil war ended, the latest clash at the camp, located near Tripoli's northern port, erupted at dawn.

Medical sources from inside the camp, who are appealing for the fighting to stop, told news channel Al Jazeera that there were dead and wounded people in the street and things were worsening.

"The situation is very tragic," camp resident Layla Mouad told Al Jazeera television by telephone. "There are three wounded in front of my house and we can't evacuate them. If there is calm for a while, then a minute later there is big explosion ... we are hiding under the sofas," she said.

The number of civilians wounded and killed since the fighting between the army and Fatah Al Islam began on Sunday has yet to be verified, but at last count at least 20 militants, 32 soldiers and 27 civilians have been killed in the battle.