Dubai: The leader of an Al-Qaeda inspired Islamist militia which fought a deadly 15-week battle with Lebanese troops last year warned in an audio message that worse was to come, according to an Islamist website.

"Our message to the crusaders is to expect the worst. This battle was only the beginning and we will prevail," said the message attributed to Fatah al-Islam's Palestinian chief Shaker al-Abssi.

Almost 400 people were killed, including an estimated 222 militants and 168 soldiers, in the fighting at the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon which ended in September after a final assault by the army.

"Could you imagine that you could crush the lion's den in the camp?" said the voice attributed to Abssi. His fate was unknown after the fighting ended although the Lebanese judiciary in October last year issued a warrant for his arrest and several dozen other fugitive militants.

Abssi's wife had at one stage identified his body in a morgue although DNA tests subsequently determined it was not him.

Source : PTI