Lebanese security officials say they have arrested a top member of an al-Qaida-inspired militant group responsible for last year's deadly fighting at a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon.
Officials say Nabil Rahim and his wife were arrested in an early morning raid on their home Thursday in the northern port city Tripoli. Officials say Rahim is a suspected high-ranking member of the Fatah al-Islam militant group.
The Lebanese military took over the Nahr al-Bared camp near Tripoli in September to end 15 weeks of fighting with Fatah al-Islam.
Earlier this week, the Palestinian leader of Fatah al-Islam threatened attacks against the Lebanese army. In an audiotaped message posted on the Internet Monday, Shaker al-Abssi accused Lebanon's army chief, General Michel Suleiman, of waging the military campaign for political purposes.
Abssi sharply criticized General Suleiman, saying he launched the campaign to appease the United States. The general is now the compromise candidate for the Lebanese presidency.
Lebanese officials have said at least 220 Islamist militants, 160 soldiers and 40 civilians were killed in the fighting.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
