The Lebanese Army on Wednesday intensified shelling of Fatah al-Islam militants holed up in a northern Palestinian camp, local ANB TV reported.

The Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, some 12 km north of the northern city of Tripoli, on Wednesday witnessed fierce clashes between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam militants, said the report.

Lebanese troops unleashed a barrage of artillery and tank shells on the positions still held by Fatah al-Islam militants in the camp, and the militants responded with a sporadic barrage, it added.

A Lebanese military source was quoted as saying that the troops continue to advance to clear mines and explosives, and have cornered the militants into a 200 square-meter area.

The Lebanese army have been battling the militants of Fatah al-Islam in the Nahr al-Bared camp since May 20. The bloodiest internal violence since the Lebanese 1975-1990 civil war has killed more than 200 people.

The Lebanese government lists Fatah al-Islam as a terrorist network aimed at destabilizing Lebanon.

(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2007)