Lebanon army receives US ammunition supplies

Beirut, May 25: Lebanon received supplies of US ammunition today, security sources said, as the Lebanese army battles Islamist militants in the north of the country.

The Lebanese government had requested more military aid from Washington after the eruption of fighting between the army and Fatah al-Islam militant group this week.

Three military supply planes arrived at Beirut airport overnight, witnesses said.

Security sources said the United States had notified the army that the supplies would be arriving after the start of the fighting, Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.

The supplies had been agreed between the Lebanese government and the US administration during a visit to Washington by Lebanese Defence Minister Elias al-Murr earlier this year, the sources said.

The United States has voiced support for the government in its battle with the militants at the Nahr al-Bared camp, calling Fatah al-Islam ''a brutal group of violent extremists''.

At least 25 militants and 33 soldiers have been killed in the clashes, security sources say. Lebanon says between 50 and 60 militants have been killed.

Palestinian sources say at least 11 civilians have been killed and 100 wounded in the camp. But Palestinians who have fled since a fragile truce took hold on Tuesday put the civilian death toll in the dozens.

Reuters>