UNSC condemns Fatah Islam attacks in Lebanon camp

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned the attacks by the Fatah Islam group in northern Lebanon "in the strongest possible terms," saying they constitute an unacceptable attack on the country's stability, security and sovereignty. Council members reiterated "their unequivocal condemnation of any attempt to destabilize Lebanon and underlined their readiness to continue to act in support of the legitimate and democratically elected government of Lebanon." A press statement from the council, which was read by the current president, US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, appealed to all Lebanese "to continue to maintain national unity in the face of such attempts to undermine the country' stability." The battle between Fatah Islam operatives holed up in the Nahr el-Bared Palestinian refugee camp and Lebanese army troops outside, who are barred under an agreeement with the Palestinians from entering the camp, was Lebanon's worst eruption of violence since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. Around half of Nahr el-Bared's 31,000 residents fled the camp after a halt in the fighting Tuesday night.