Al-Ahbash Top Ain el-Hilweh Cleric Critically Injured in Assassination Bid

An unknown gunman on Wednesday tried to assassinate the top official of the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects -- also known as al-Ahbash -- in the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon.

After several TV stations said Sheikh Orsan Suleiman died of his wounds after he was shot in Ain el-Hilweh, the hospital that he was rushed to denied the reports, saying he was alive but in a "very critical condition."

Al-Jadeed television said he was undergoing "a critical surgery for his head wounds."

MTV said Suleiman is the top official of al-Ahbash in Ain el-Hilweh.

LBCI television said a masked gunman opened fire at the cleric on the road of the Darb al-Seem Cemetery in the camp.

Gunshots were fired in the air in Ain el-Hilweh in the wake of the assassination bid, al-Jadeed TV reported.

The development comes after eight people were killed and ten others were wounded on Monday in fierce clashes at the nearby Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp.

The armed clash erupted between supporters of Jamal Suleiman's Ansar Ullah group, a close ally to Hizbullah, and others loyal to Ahmed Rashid's the Return Martyrs' Brigades.

Y.R.

S.D.B.