An explosion near a busy shopping centre in a Christian sector of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, has killed a 63-year-old woman and injured 10 people, hours after clashes between the Lebanese army and an armed Palestinian group around a refugee camp in the north of the country left at least 37 people dead and scores injured.
The Lebanese army said 22 soldiers and 14 Fatah al-Islam fighters were killed. A civilian was also reported dead.
Scores were hospitalised after fighting extended from the perimeter of Nahr al-Bared camp to the city of Tripoli.
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"Fighting broke out between the army and Fatah al-Islam on Sunday morning"
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The Beirut bomb blast across the street from the ABC shopping centre occurred shortly before midnight (21:00 GMT) in Ashrafieh, an upscale neighbourhood, leaving a crater 1.5m deep and 3m wide in the road.
The explosives appeared to have been placed inside a parked vehicle.
Rescuers said six of the injuries were from flying debris and broken glass.
Several cars also were wrecked in the blast, which was heard across the city and surrounding hills.
The Lebanese Broadcasting Corp said a wall in the woman's nearby apartment collapsed on her from the impact of the explosion.
It is unclear if the bombing was directly linked to the fighting in the north of the country hours earlier.
Arrest raids
Fighting broke out between the army and Fatah al-Islam on Sunday morning after security forces raided homes in Tripoli to arrest suspects accused of a bank robbery.
A Lebanese military source said the army blasted the camp at Nahr al-Bared with tank fire.
At least three members of Fatah al-Islam were killed in central Tripoli after the army stormed a building in which they were hiding.
More than 40 wounded people contacted Al Jazeera saying they were not able to leave their homes to reach hospitals.
Witnesses reported hearing exchanges of fire from assault rifles and machine guns, as well as rocket explosions.
The death toll could rise as the Lebanese authorities are unable to enter Palestinian camps in observance of a 38-year-old deal.
Warning
Fouad Siniora, Lebanon's prime minister, accused Fatah al-Islam of trying to destabilise the country.
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The fighting is the worst since the
end of the civil war in 1990 [AFP] |
In a statement, he said: "The blows dealt by Fatah al-Islam against the Lebanese army are a premeditated crime and a dangerous attempt to destabilise [Lebanon]".
He called on the people of Lebanon, which has been battling political chaos for months, to "join ranks behind the army and Lebanese security forces."
Earlier, Fatah al-Islam told Lebanon's army not to take "provocative actions" against the group.
The authenticity of the group's statement could not be immediately verified but its language was similar to previous statements from the group.
"We warn the Lebanese army of the consequences of continuing the provocative acts against our mujahidin who will open the gates of fire... against [the army] and against the whole of Lebanon."
Syria allegations
Lebanese officials allege Fatah al-Islam is merely a front for Syrian intelligence in Lebanon.
Ahmad Fatfat, a Lebanese cabinet minister, said Sunday's violence was part of efforts to sabotage the setting up of an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, a former prime minister.
While a UN inquiry into his killing has not yet concluded, interim reports have implicated Syria and Lebanese officials.
"There is someone trying to create security chaos to say to world public opinion: 'Look, if the tribunal is established, there will be security trouble in Lebanon'," Fatfat said.
Syria and Fatah al-Islam deny having any relationship.
Fatah al-Islam statements have appeared on Islamist websites known to publish al-Qaeda statements.
Bus bombings
The Lebanese army cannot enter Palestinian refugee camps in line with a 38-year-old agreement.
However, it has tightened its grip around the camp since the authorities charged members of the group with carrying out two bus bombings in a Christian area near Beirut that killed three civilians in February.
The Lebanese army has also stepped up security in the area surrounding Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon.