Palestinian refugees in Lebanon not taking sides

Senior Fatah leader Azzam al-Ahmad said Sunday that he was working with Lebanese political and security officials to defuse the situation in a Palestinian refugee camp, where fighting had recently erupted. Al-Ahmad told official PA radio station Voice of Palestine that he agreed with Lebanese officials that Palestinian refugees were not taking sides in any political disagreements in Lebanon. The official blamed an unnamed third party for trying to stir troubles taking advantage of the internal turmoil in Lebanon and the ongoing disorder in Syria. He said the Lebanese army were not involved in the crisis. At least two Palestinians were killed in Nahr al-Bared camp last week as clashes broke out between the Lebanese army and residents. A camp resident was killed earlier in clashes which erupted after the Lebanese military tried to stop a fight between two Palestinians at the camp, residents said. Earlier he had blamed unrest on Arab Islamist groups, and compared the situation to the conflict in Syria.