NAHR AL-BARED, Lebanon, Aug 24 (Reuters) - The families of Islamist militants battling Lebanese troops for the past three months began leaving a battered Palestinian refugee camp in north Lebanon on Friday, a military source said.

"The evacuation has begun," the source said. "We announced a ceasefire to ensure the evacuation within a specific time frame."

Witnesses said the Lebanese army told journalists to stay away from the area where the civilians -- 22 women and 41 children -- were to leave the camp.

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