Lebanon Seeks Aid in Fighting Islamists

Lebanon's finance minister appealed to Arab and Western governments yesterday, begging for money and supplies to help fight militants in a Palestinian refugee camp. Thirty Lebanese troops, 15 members of the group Fatah al-Islam, and more than 25 civilians have been killed in two days of clashes.

As Lebanese troops continued to continued to shell the camp, which they are barred from entering, Sami Haddad told CNN "it's no secret" Beirut could be doing better."
President Bush voiced support: "Extremists that are trying to topple that young democracy need to be reined in." Lebanon has blamed Syria for backing the extremists, and Bush said "there's no question" Syria is still meddling in its neighbor's affairs. (More Lebanon stories.)