Lebanese-Palestinian Clashes Erupt in Bourj al-Barajneh

Heavy armed clashes erupted in and around the Palestinian refugee camp of Bourj al-Barajneh in south Beirut between the Lebanese Jaafar family and the al-Qaffas Palestinian family, media reports said on Friday.

Media reports said at least three people were killed and several others wounded.

MTV said its cameraman Jad Abu Antoun was wounded in the leg by a ricochet gunshot during his coverage of the clashes. He was later discharged from hospital after receiving the needed treatment.

The reports said that machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades could be heard in the area.

Several roads around the area were blocked as the result of stray bullets.

After relative calm that followed the deployment of the Lebanese army, media reports said gunfire had renewed in the evening.

It has been reported that the clashes erupted against the backdrop of disputes over construction works.

"The situation is now calm and we're communicating with the army and with AMAL Movement and Hizbullah and we've informed them that the gunmen have been pulled from the streets," Fatah Movement's Bourj al-Barajneh official was quoted as saying.

He stressed that the incident had no political motives.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq meanwhile left a cabinet session to follow up on the situation.