Lebanon army takes control of camp

By Nazih Siddiq

NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon (Reuters) - Lebanese troops on Sunday seized control of a Palestinian refugee camp where they had been battling militants for more than three months, killing at least 31 fleeing fighters, security sources said.

Thirty-four more Islamist militants from the Fatah al-Islam group were captured, 23 inside the Nahr al-Bared camp in northern Lebanon. Most were wounded, a security source said.

"I am glad to convey to you the news of the national victory, the national steadfastness and the great triumph which Lebanon's army has achieved over the terrorists," Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said in a televised address.

The fighting has been Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war, killing more than 300 people. Fatah al-Islam says it shares al Qaeda's ideology but has no organizational ties to the network.

A senior security source told Reuters the battle was over and the army had taken the group's last positions in the camp.

"Most of the terrorists were killed today. The others have been captured. A few might have escaped but the army is hunting them down," the source said.

The fate of Shaker al-Abssi, the group's Palestinian leader, was unclear.

Five soldiers were killed on Sunday, raising the army death toll to 157. At least 131 militants and 42 civilians have also been killed.