One Lebanese soldier, armed Palestinians killed in sudden confrontations in Galilee camp
Lebanon, Local, 9/5/2002

One Lebanese soldier, and two Palestinians were killed while other 16 were wounded in sudden confrontations that erupted on Wednesday at dawn between a patrol for the Lebanese army and armed Palestinian elements in the Galilee camp in Baalbeck.

Calm overshadowed on Wednesday afternoon following tough security measures imposed by the security forces so as to hand over the person who opened fire from inside the camp, and also political contacts to contain the consequences of this unprecedented action in such a small camp.

Lebanese official sources said that the Lebanese army did not enter the camp, rather had a security mission in its surrounding and it was exposed to "coordinated" fire from members of the Fatah movement -- the revolutionary council -- and this resulted in the killing of a Lebanese soldier and to a clash which resulted in other killing and many wounded.

The sources said what happened was not perpetuated by the Lebanese army and of no political dimensions.

But the Palestinian side showed a sudden reaction towards a decision which is considered the first of its kind since 1969 which says that entering the camp can only be done after receiving the consent of the Palestinian internal security.

The Palestinians talked about the horror the Palestinians got and resulted first into unarmed confrontation before it was developed to armed clashes.

Several contacts at various levels were made all day long on Wednesday and this was to concentrate on the demands by the army to hand over those who open fire, otherwise measures around the camp will be further tightened.

The Lebanese official sources said that the army tightened its siege intensively, refusing any solution that is not built on handing over those who opened fire at the Lebanese military men who's identity has become known to the people's committee inside the camp.

The Lebanese sources denied any decision that provides for the entry of the army to the camp, noting that the problem relates to a weapons warehouse in the surrounding of the camp, owned by the Fatah movement -- the revolutionary council -- and no other Palestinian group is linked to this issue.

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