Both sides reiterated in a statement their adherence to the decision of the Joint Palestinian Action Committee to cease hostilities in the camp after several days of fighting between Fatah and extremist groups.

Officials from the two movements held a meeting to discuss the recent events in Ein al-Hilweh, and highlighted the demand to hand over the responsible for the assassination of Major General Abu Ashraf Al-Armushi to Lebanese justice. They also agreed to work to facilitate the return of displaced people to their homes, evacuate schools as quickly as possible and rebuild the camp.

The meeting was held at the Palestinian embassy in Beirut, and was attended by Azzam al-Ahmad, member of the Central Committee and supervisor of Fatah, and Musa Abu Marzouk, member of the Political Bureau of Hamas.

Previously, Hamas rejected accusations of supporting armed groups along with Islamic Jihad and Hizbullah in the conflict in the refugee camp. It issued a statement describing such falsehoods as old and new desperate attempts to distort the image of the Palestinian movement and resistance.

An atmosphere of caution reigned yesterday in the camp following the renewal of fighting, which left three wounded by gunshots.

The camp witnessed the outbreak of violent clashes between Fatah and extremist organizations in late July. The situation escalated after the assassination of the commander of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Saida, Abu Ashraf Al-Armushi, and four of his companions.

jrr/llp/oda/yma