(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-22 08:50

BEIRUT - Heavy gunfire erupted between Islamic militants and fighters of the mainstream Fatah faction in a Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon on Friday, local New TV reported.

Heavy gunfire was heard in and around the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in the southern port city of Sidon, the report said, adding that several families fled their homes towards schools and mosques in Sidon city.

Meanwhile, the Daily Star reported on its website that minor clashes began on Thursday when armed members from Jund al-Sham opened fire on some Fatah members whose organization was accused of seizing senior Jund al-Sham commander Houssam Salim Maarouf and handing him over to the Lebanese authorities.

Rumors spread that Maarouf had been arrested for robbing a jewelry shop in Sidon, but Palestinian sources said he was taken in for questioning because he was suspected of having carried " questionable and dangerous security activities such as communicating with Israel," said the report.

Ein el-Hilweh, with a population of 75,000, is the largest of 12 Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. Nearly all Palestinian factions have offices in the camp.