BEIRUT, Lebanon - Palestinian guerrillas in refugee camps in Lebanon went on alert on Friday after Lebanese army units tightened their grip around the slums ahead of a meeting to discuss the fate of Palestinian arms in the country.

Both sides played down the possibility of violence and said the measures were linked to fears of an Israeli attack against the camps and did not signal an imminent Lebanese-Palestinian showdown.

But the moves came hours after Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said there was no need for Palestinian weapons outside the camps.

A U.N. Security Council resolution last year that led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon also calls for the disarming of Lebanese and Palestinian armed groups, most of them backed by Syria.

Last week, the Lebanese army tightened controls around the posts of a pro-Syrian Palestinian group sparking the group's anger and criticism by some Lebanese groups.

Siniora will discuss with representatives of Palestinian factions on Saturday their arms amid rising international pressure to disarm in accordance with Resolution 1559.

"We are absolutely not on the road to confrontation with Palestinians and we have no intention or desire to do so. Our Palestinian brothers are visitors and guests and we have to have dialogue with them," Siniora told the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday night.

"And it is very important to specify things, there is no need or interest in having Palestinian arms outside the camps."

Around 390,000 Palestinians live in 12 refugee camps in Lebanon. Armed Palestinian groups played a key role for most of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.

Palestinian fighters, armed mainly with assault rifles, grenade launchers and Katyusha rockets, control the camps where the Lebanese authorities have no presence or authority inside them.

Appeal; to Syria

Siniora also called on Syria to reign in Palestinian groups which it has large sway over. Some Lebanese politicians fear Syria might use some Palestinian groups to destabilise Lebanon.

"I don't want to blame Syria for what is happening but I call on the Syrian leadership to practice in this case the necessary self-restraint through its ties with Palestinian factions," he said.

Syria, the main power broker in the country for the past 15-years, ended its 29-year military presence in April following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Many Lebanese blamed Syria for the crime, currently being investigated by the United Nations, and a string of bombings and killings which followed. Syria has denied any involvement.

The leader of Fatah, the largest Palestinian faction, in Lebanon Sultan Abu al-Ainain said guerrillas went on alert after Lebanese security sources said on Thursday the army was stepping up security around the camps to foil any Israeli attack. (Reuters)