BEIRUT - Representatives of the main Palestinian factions in Lebanon held talks with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora on Monday, offering their help to crush Islamic militants who triggered the bloodiest internal fighting since the civil war.
"We are open... to all the demands of the Lebanese state. We hope to cooperate in order to eliminate the Fatah Al-Islam phenomenon, on the condition innocent civilians do not pay a high price," said Abbas Ziki, Lebanon representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
Deadly fighting has raged for two days in the Nahr al-Bared camp in northern Lebanon which like all Palestinian refugee camps in the country are off limits to Lebanese forces and remain in the control of armed Palestinian factions.
"It is not easy for the army to enter the camp," said Ziki. "In order to eliminate Fatah Al-Islam, things should be considered closely with the residents."
Ziki said the Fatah al-Islam, which is accused of links to Al-Qaeda, was a "strange phenomenon" and that many of its members were not Palestinian.
The Hamas representative in Lebanon, Usama Hamdan, said "the Palestinians are not responsible for what is happening and everyone should help alleviate the suffering of civilians in the camp."
05/21/2007 12:17 GMT