Palestinian fire fight by Ein al-Helweh refugee camps
Lebanon-Palestine, Local, 10/24/2005

Lebanese parliamentarian Osama Saad, the chairman of the Naserite people's organization, accused foreign sides of fabricating reasons that resulted in the eruption of armed clashes near Ein al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp, near Sidon, south Lebanon on Sunday.

He denied in statements that the Naserite people's organization had been involved in these clashes, according to the Lebanese police, which said that the clahes took place between the Naserite organization and Jund al-Sham in al-Taamir ( construction) quarters on the frontier between Ein al-Helweh camp and Sidon. He said that these clashes took place between two Lebanese security groups.

Worthy mentioning that Jund al-Sham group which includes in its majority Lebanese members, takes the Palestinian Ein al-Helweh camp as headquarters.

Saad called on the Lebanese government to bring to account for these elements which raised the crisis on Sunday near the Palestinian camp and resulted in injuring four persons including one Palestinian civilian and three Lebanese.

Saad who mediated along with the Lebanese parliamentarian Baheya al-Hariri between the intelligence of the Lebanese army and the Palestinian groups in order to monitor the situation, added: there are international pressures in order to find pretexts on the ground to highlight certain sensitive issues in Lebanon, especially during this critical phase the country is witnessing. He noted the issue of the Palestinian weapons in Lebanon, which was a controversial issue recently between the Lebanese and the Palestinians.

Meantime, Palestinian groups in Beirut denied any involvement for any Palestinian side in the clashes which erupted twice on Sunday near Ein al-Helweh camp. The secretary of the PLO, Khaled Aref, indicated an external side as being behind raising differences between these two armed groups, so as to bring back light on the Palestinian issue.

The Lebanese police said that the clashes took place between gunmen that belong to the two Islamic groups following personal differences between their members. The clashes resulted in injuring the Palestinian Ayman Gheizi by one random bullet after which he was admitted to hospital, before the police were able to control conditions and restore back calm.

However, and according to the police, the two groups after half an hour resumed exchanging fire, and three Lebanese were injured as a result before the clashes stopped once again.

Previous Stories:
  Nasrullah opposes dismantling Palestinians refugees weapons   (10/21/2005)
  Palestinian support to Lebanon to remove groups weapons   (10/19/2005)
  Lebanese parliamentarian reiterates palestinian right to return home   (10/10/2005)

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