Soldier shot dead at Lebanon camp

Much of Nahr al-Bared has been destroyed during the fighting

A Lebanese soldier has died in fighting with Islamist militants under siege for weeks at a refugee camp in Lebanon.

Sniper fire from Fatah al-Islam fighters inside the Nahr al-Bared camp fatally injured the soldier late on Tuesday, a military official said.

His death came as witnesses said the Lebanese army was bringing in heavy reinforcements to the area of the camp, suggesting a possible fresh assault.

At least 80 soldiers and 60 militants have died in seven weeks of fighting.

About 40 civilians have also been killed.

Members of Fatah al-Islam have been besieged at the camp in northern Lebanon since May amid Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975-90 civil war.

FATAH AL-ISLAM Split from Palestinian group Fatah al-Intifada in late 2006 Believed to have 150-200 armed men, based in Nahr al-Bared camp Denies al-Qaeda links but says it endorses its ideas Has links with Syrian intelligence, Lebanon says Leader is Shaker al-Abssi Profile: Fatah al-Islam

The Nahr al-Bared camp was once home to some 30,000 Palestinian refugees but only a few thousand remain inside.

Most residents have fled to a nearby settlement to avoid the fighting.

The Lebanese government believes Fatah al-Islam is backed by Syrian intelligence, a claim Syria denies.