NAHR AL-BARED (Lebanon): Two demonstrators were shot dead on Friday as Palestinians demanded to return to their shattered homes, even as Lebanese troops and Islamists battled around their refugee camp.

Correspondents said several protesters were hit by gunfire, although an army spokesman said only warning shots were fired to keep the demonstrators away from the northern Lebanon war zone for their own protection. Local medics said two people were killed by gunfire and more than 40 others were wounded, some of whom needed operations.

The state news agency ANI said about 100 protesters rushed an army checkpoint outside Baddawi, another camp close to besieged Nahr al-Bared, forcing troops to open fire after they refused to pull back. Lebanese civilians also intervened and scuffled with the demonstrators, causing some of the injuries, according to witnesses.

—AFP