By Xinhua
Beirut : Lebanon has issued an arrest warrant for leader of the Fatah al-Islam terrorist network whose militants were involved in a deadly 15-week battle with government troops, local Naharnet news website reported on Friday.
The warrant has been issued for Fatah al-Islam’s Palestinian chief Shaker al-Abssi, whose fate remains unknown, and 36 other militants who remain at large, Judge Ghassan Oweydat was quoted assaying.
Oweydat, who is handling the case over the standoff between Fatah al-Islam and Lebanese troops, hinted that Abssi is still alive and probably in Lebanon.
The conflict between the army and Fatah al-Islam erupted in May at the impoverished Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon and came to an end on September 2 when the Lebanese army launched a final assault against the militants.
But the army has never stopped the efforts to hunt for the remnants of the Islamic military group.
About 400 people were killed in the fighting, including 168 Lebanese officers and soldiers and at least 222 of Fatah al-Islam members.