Islamists kill 2 Lebanese soldiers in battle

By Nazih Siddiq

NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon (Reuters) - Islamist militants killed two Lebanese soldiers in fierce fighting at a Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon on Saturday, security sources said.

They said the Lebanese army was in the final phase of its campaign to defeat Fatah al-Islam and exert its control over Nahr al-Bared camp after 10 weeks of fighting that has killed at least 250 people.

"We are in the final phase of the army's operation but some of the fiercest fighting could still be ahead of us," one source said.

Troops attacked hideouts of the al Qaeda-inspired militants deep into the camp, once home to 40,000 refugees. The militants hit back, attacking advanced army posts with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

Two soldiers were killed in the fighting, taking the death toll among troops to 124 since the battles, Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war, erupted on May 20.

More than 85 Fatah al-Islam fighters and 41 civilians have also been killed, while 65 militants have been detained and charged with terrorism -- a charge carrying the death penalty.

MILITANTS' FAMILIES

The army said in a statement it was doing everything possible to allow scores of civilians to leave the camp but that militants were stopping their families from leaving.