From the unelected President of Lebanon

Nasrallah warns Lebanese gov't against storming Palestinian refugee camp

By News Agencies

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday warned the Lebanese government against storming a Palestinian refugee camp where Islamic militants are holed up and criticized U.S. weapons aid to the military in the standoff.

Nasrallah warned that Lebanon risked getting dragged into the United States' war against Al-Qaida, which he said would draw more Islamic militants into the country and potentially destabilize it.

"The problem in the north can be solved politically and through the judiciary in a way that protects the Lebanese army, our Palestinian brothers, the state and peace and stability without transforming Lebanon into a battleground in which we fight Al-Qaida on behalf of the Americans," he said in a televised address.

It was the first comment by the powerful opposition leader on the military's standoff with the Fatah al-Islam militant group, holed up in the Nahr el-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon.

Nasrallah said the Fatah al-Islam militants who attacked the military should be brought to justice. But he said Hezbollah opposed any military incursion into the camp to crush the militants.

"The Nahr el-Bared camp and Palestinian civilians are a red line. We will not accept or provide cover or be partners in this," he said.

Hezbollah and the opposition accuse Siniora of being a puppet of the United States and are pushing for his ouster.

Nasrallah called a large airlifting of U.S. military supplies to the Lebanese military to help in the Nahr el-Bared fight a dangerous thing.

"Does it concern us that we start a conflict with Al-Qaida in Lebanon and
consequently attract members and fighters of Al-Qaida from all over the world to Lebanon to conduct their battle with the Lebanese army and the rest of the Lebanese?" he asked.

He stressed his position was not in defense of Fatah al-Islam but to preserve the army, which he described as the last bastion that is keeping the country together.

U.S. re-supplies Lebanese army as it deploys in embattled camp
The United States and Arab allies sent military aid to Lebanon on Friday and the Lebanese army deployed extra troops to a Palestinian camp where it has been battling Islamist militants this week.

A fragile truce held between the army and the Fatah al-Islam militant group in northern Lebanon at the Nahr al-Bared camp, where the faction is based, despite sporadic overnight clashes.

Lebanese Defense Minister Elias al-Murr said the government was leaving room for negotiations but the army would act if necessary. "What is required is the handing over of those terrorists and criminals," he told reporters.

Murr gave no details on the talks, but a delegation from the various main Palestinian factions have been holding extensive meetings with Lebanese leaders in a bid to end the crisis.

At least 33 soldiers and 25 militants have been killed in what is the worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war. Thousands have fled the camp, where Palestinian sources say at least 11 civilians have been killed and 100 wounded.

At least six U.S. and Arab military supply planes arrived at Beirut airport carrying ammunition and other light equipment from U.S. depots in the region and from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, security sources said.

"The United States has existing agreements to provide military assistance to Lebanon. Under those agreements we are expediting the delivery of supplies," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, acknowledging that some shipments had arrived.

Late on Thursday, Congress approved a budget request of $770 million in aid for Lebanon, of which $280 million is earmarked for military assistance. On top of $230 million agreed last year for Lebanon, this brings U.S. aid until end-2007 to $1 billion.

UNRWA, the United Nations agency which cares for Palestinian refugees, said around 15,000 people were still in the camp, home to some 40,000 before it came under heavy army shelling this week.

"The humanitarian situation in Nahr al-Bared is deteriorating," UNRWA spokeswoman Hoda Elturk said. "We have our trucks full of food and water ready," she said, but added: "It's not secure enough for our staff to enter."

Extra Lebanese soldiers arrived overnight at the camp, which the army is not allowed to enter under a 1969 Arab agreement, witnesses said. The 40,000-strong army is already stretched with significant deployments along the border with Israel in south Lebanon, Syria to the north and east and in and around Beirut.

Many army units deployed in Beirut for months to stem rising sectarian tensions amid a deep political crisis, appear to have left their positions and headed north, witnesses said.

Beirut requested more U.S. military aid after fighting erupted on Sunday. Washington voiced support for the government, calling Fatah al-Islam "a brutal group of violent extremists."

Arab states, many of which have fought their own battles with Sunni Islamist militants, have also pledged military aid. Lebanese leaders have vowed to stamp out the group, which is led by a Palestinian but has little support among Lebanon's Palestinian refugee community of around 400,000.

Military analysts say it will be very hard for the army to deal Fatah al-Islam a decisive blow unless it enters the camp.

Lebanon's defence ministry estimates between 50 and 60 militants have been killed in the fighting, which the army says started after Fatah al-Islam launched unprovoked attacks on soldiers. The militants say they have acted in self-defenae.

Thousands who fled the fighting are sheltering in a nearby refugee camp where relief workers are delivering aid.

Fatah al-Islam is inspired by the Sunni militant group Al-Qaida. The Lebanese authorities say they have arrested Saudi, Algerian, Tunisian, Syrian and Lebanese members of the group.

Anti-Syrian Lebanese leaders say Fatah al-Islam is a tool of Syrian intelligence. Damascus and the group deny the charge.

Original article posted here.