Smoke billows from the besieged Palestinian camp of Nahr al-Bared in north Lebanon, 19 Aug. 2007

The Lebanese army Tuesday agreed to a ceasefire request from Islamic militants to allow their families to leave a Palestinian refugee camp where the two factions have been fighting for months.

The mediators, from the Palestinian Cleric's Association, say Fatah al-Islam asked them late Monday for help in arranging a truce in the fighting at Nahr al-Bared camp near the northern port city of Tripoli.

In the past, the clerics' group has tried but failed to mediate between the militants and the army, which is demanding an unconditional surrender of remaining fighters.

Most of the camp's refugees have fled since fighting began in May. 

Also Tuesday Lebanon's military says a soldier was killed during fighting at Nahr al-Bared. 

At least 200 people, including 141 soldiers, have been killed in the battles.

The U.S. State Department has labeled al-Qaida-inspired Fatah al-Islam a terrorist organization.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.