By SAM F. GHATTAS
The Associated Press
Monday, May 28, 2007; 10:40 PM

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Sporadic clashes erupted Monday between Lebanese troops and Islamic militants at a Palestinian refugee camp, injuring one soldier, security officials said.

In the capital Beirut, troops opened fire on a car that sped past a checkpoint outside the international airport, killing two people, police said. Beirut has been tense following four bombings in the last eight days and concerns about additional attacks linked to the battle between troops and militants at the Palestinian camp.

The clashes at the camp with automatic rifle fire, rockets and artillery erupted briefly in the early afternoon and again late at night, when shelling lit up the night sky. The soldier was hurt in the afternoon exchanges, said security officials speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Lebanese troops have been besieging the Nahr el-Bared camp since last Sunday when fighting erupted with Fatah Islam militants holed up inside. A truce Tuesday halted the fighting, but there have been sporadic clashes almost daily.

Thirty soldiers, 20 civilians and up to 60 militants have been reported killed in the fighting.

Hundreds of troops have been encircling the camp, with the government threatening to storm it if the militants do not surrender. Fatah Islam, whose leader has said he is inspired by al-Qaida, has vowed to fight to death.

In the shooting in Beirut, a car, carrying three passengers initially stopped at the checkpoint but only one of the occupants obeyed an order to get out before the other two drove off at high speed, police officials said speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make statements to the media.

Troops fired warning shots but the Mercedes Benz taxi did not stop. Soldiers then aimed at the passengers, instantly killing Hassan Ali Kareki, a Lebanese, and seriously injuring the driver, Hamadeh Hammoud Haj Ahmed, a Syrian, police said.

Ahmed later died in the hospital, said the officials, who added that a passer-by was moderately injured in the shooting.

Ahmed did not stop at the checkpoint apparently because he had been convicted by a Lebanese court on forgery charges, the officials said.

The passenger who stepped out of the car was detained for questioning, they added.

The troops are currently conducting a search of the vehicle to determine whether it carried any explosives or contraband.

Later Monday, an assailant tossed a concussion grenade at a municipal building containing a prison in the eastern city of Zahle, causing panic but no injuries, police officials said.