LEBANON - Aug 18 - Lebanon Charges 107 With Terrorism.

Lebanon has charged over 100 suspected militants with terrorism, accusing them of belonging to an Al Qaida inspired group that has been battling the army for almost three months. Prosecutor General Saeed Mirza filed the charges on Friday, targeting 107 suspected Fatah Al Islam members in police custody, and an indeterminate number still at large, including group leader Shaker Youssef Al Absi, the official said. Mirza accused the suspected militants of "establishing a gang with the aim of committing crimes against the people, stealing money, undermining the state's authority and attacking its military and security institutions". He also charged the alleged Fatah Islam members with "possession and use of explosive materials and unlicensed weapons and carrying out terrorist acts that have led to the death of a large number of officers and soldiers in the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces and the wounding of others". The official said most of the 107 in custody were Lebanese, but the group also included Saudis, Palestinians and Syrians. They could face death if convicted of terrorism charges. Fatah Al Islam has been blamed for past attacks inside Lebanon. Interior Minister Hassan Sabie has said that members of the group confessed to bombing two buses near Beirut in February that killed three people and wounded 20.