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Lebanese army, Fatah al-Islam agree families can leave camp

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DAMASCUS, August 24 (RIA Novosti) - The families of extremist group Fatah al-Islam, embroiled in several months of fierce fighting with the Lebanese army in the Palestinian refugee camp Nahr al-Bared, will be able to leave soon.

A source in the Palestinian clerics' association told Al Jazeera television channel that the agreement was reached through the mediation with the organization, adding there were presently 63 civilians in the camp - 22 women and 41 children.

The Lebanese military Friday intensified air bombardments of the camp, in an attempt to put pressure on the militants' families to leave quickly, as wives were refusing to leave their husbands, but due to the intensive bombing they changed their minds.

The militants are demanding a temporary ceasefire so that the women and children can leave, guarantees that families will not be arrested, and assistance in resettlement both in Lebanon and outside it.

A total of 143 Lebanese soldiers have died since the start of the armed clashes with Fatah al-Islam.

Lebanon is demanding the unconditional surrender of Fatah al-Islam, reportedly linked to al-Qaeda, and has refused to conduct direct talks with the Islamist group.

The conflict with Fatah al-Islam militants in Nahr al-Bared, which started on May 20, is Lebanon's worst eruption of internal violence since the 1975-90 civil war.

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