Soldiers raided an apartment building on Mitein Street, blasting a flat with grenades, gunfire and tear gas. They found no one inside, but a few hours later they pursued a militant in the building who blew himself up rather than surrender. No soldiers were injured by the blast.

The military's attack at the camp also has raised fears the fighting could destabilize Lebanon's uneasy balance among its many religious sects and factions. Saniora's Western-backed government already faces a domestic political crisis, with the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah militant group campaigning for its removal.

But so far, Saniora's rivals have supported the assault. The Shiite Muslims of Hezbollah deeply opposes Sunni militant groups like Fatah Islam, and the movement issued a statement stressing the military's duty to safeguard the country.

Saniora's top rival, pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, also said Tuesday that Fatah Islam must be neutralized. He called on other Palestinian factions to hand over Fatah Islam militants.

The Bush administration repeated its support for Saniora, a close US ally. It also hinted that it suspected a Syrian role in the turmoil.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the militants wanted to distract international attention from an effort at the United Nations to establish a special tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He said the US "will not tolerate attempts by Syria, terrorist groups or any others to delay or derail Lebanon's efforts to solidify its sovereignty or seek justice in the Hariri case."

Lebanese security officials accuse Syria of using Fatah Islam to destabilize Lebanon, a charge Damascus denies. Syria controlled Lebanon for decades until growing street demonstrations by Lebanese and international pressure forced it to withdraw its troops after Hariri's assassination.

The refugees fleeing Nahr el-Bared moved into the nearby Beddawi refugee camp. UNWRA officials registered them and distributed mattresses, food and water. Hundreds bunked at a school, while others moved in with relatives at the camp, already home to 15,000 people.

Kassem, the university student, was furious over the assault, saying Fatah Islam was just an excuse for the Lebanese army to strike. "We were not afraid of death. But to die by the weapons of Arabs, this is what makes us angry," she said.

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