Clashes between Islamic militants and Lebanon's mainstream Fatah faction in a Palestinian refugee camp has caused locals to flee the area. Rival fighters exchanged rocket fire for almost two hours in the main street of the camp just outside the southern port city of Sidon.

The Lebanese army blocked the entrance to the camp while allowing civilians to leave. At least one man is reported to have been killed and four more wounded in the fighting. Tension has been rising between the two sides since Thursday when Fatah arrested a militant and handed him over to the Lebanese army. The clashes have raised fears of a repeat of last year's violence centred around the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.

Three months of fierce fighting between the Lebanese army and militants destroyed the camp in northern Lebanon.