A gunman suspected for killing three Lebanese army intelligence agents was handed over to the army from the Ain Helwe Palestinian refugee camp where he had been holed up for five days, a Palestinian source said.The source said Lebanese Islamic leaders had handed the suspect, Badih Hamade, to Lebanese soldiers early Tuesday at the northern entrance of the camp, on the outskirts of the port city of Saida.Hamade had been nabbed three hours earlier by members of the Islamist group Osbat al-Ansar in one of the camp's dwellings, the source said, after being sheltered by a rival Islamist group, Osbat al-Nour.
Hamade, a Shiite Lebanese militant, is accused by the army of shooting dead three intelligence agents who were tailing him last Thursday and of a spate of bomb attacks on military checkpoints around Ain Helwe.

Late on Monday Islamic mediator Abu Sharif, spokesman for Osbat al-Ansar, had said he struck an 11th-hour deal for the surrender of Hamade.

Abu Sharif said he took part in long negotiations with Sheikh Abdullah Shreidi, leader of Osbat al-Nur.

Lebanon had turned up pressure for the handover of Hamade from the camp, to which it has entrusted security to the Palestinians since 1969, positioning hundreds of extra soldiers around the camp late Sunday, backed by military vehicles.

Interior Minister Elias Murr warned on Monday: "There is no solution but to hand over the murderer. Otherwise, the army will gradually take harsh measures that could lead to closing all the camp's entrances."

Two of Ain Helwe's five entrances had been sealed off by Lebanese troops, who also imposed tight controls on the other three.

Lebanese authorities stay out of the 12 Palestinian camps scattered around the country and which are autonomous and home to supporters of all factions. Ain Helwe is the largest refugee camp with about 50,000 residents.

With the noose tightening Palestinian groups had readied a strike force to seize the militant wanted by Lebanese authorities.

PHOTO CAPTION

A Lebanese soldier grips an anti-aircraft machine gun as he stands on top of armored personnel carrier (APC) around the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp near the port-city of Sidon in south Lebanon, July 15, 2002. A small blast shook homes on Monday near the offices of a Palestinian faction in Lebanon's Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp where groups are hunting a suspected militant wanted by Lebanon, Palestinian sources said. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho
- Jul 15 2:05 PM