Beirut - Taha al-Hajj Suleiman, a Syrian national and a member of the al Qaeda-linked Fatah al-Islam group, managed Tuesday to escape from prison in eastern Beirut, police said.

Suleiman, who was engaged in fierce battles with the Lebanese army in the Palestinian camp of Nahr al Bared in northern Lebanon in 2007, managed to flee the Roumieh jail after seven of his colleagues were arrested while attempting to escape as well, Lebanese police said.

The security services, with the cooperation of the Lebanese army, started a manhunt for Suleiman and set up roadblocks across the capital and around the Roumieh prison area.

The eight Fatah al-Islam members sawed the window bars and used blankets as ropes to descend from the second floor of the jail.

According to police Suleiman managed to successfully escape because he was the first to jump.

Lebanese media said Suleiman stopped a car next to the Forum de Beirut at the outskirts of the capital and pointed a gun at the female driver and ordered her to keep driving.

The driver then intentionally crashed her car into a van to draw attention of bystanders. Suleiman then fled the scene on foot.

Police reports said among those who tried to flee was Fatah al- Islam spokesperson Mohammad Saleh al-Zawawi, also known as Abu Salim Taha.

Lebanese Interior Minister Ziad Baroud immediately launched an investigation into the escape. Seven policemen were arrested in connection with the incident, according to local media.

Fatah al-Islam is a terrorist organization that fought against the Lebanese army in the refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared. The three-month battles killed 220 militants and 171 soldiers as well as 47 civilians, mostly Palestinians.(dpa)