VIOLENCE IN BEIRUT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28700, 25 September 1958, Page 13

VIOLENCE IN BEIRUT

Falangist Party Calls Strike (Rec. 10 p.m.) BEIRUT, September 24. A new wave of violence swept over Beirut as the Christian Falangist Party enforced a total strike in protest against the' kidnapping. six days ago. of Fuad Haddad, a Falangist newspaperman. Unconfirmed reports said at least two persons had been killed this morning. The Lebanese Army is out in force, but has not so far intervened. Tanks and armoured cars covered streets leading from the Christian areas to the Moslem areas of Beirut. Falangist youths built barricades in their areas of the city, and crowds of youths milled around Riad Solh square, in the centre of Beirut, under the noses of soldiers who watched silently from their tanks. The Falangists virtually took over control of traffic, and one man who refused to stop his car was wounded, but escaped, bleeding profusely, in a taxi. At one stage of his flight hu stumbled on the steps of the British Embassy and left bloodstains.

American patrols toured the hotel area near the American Embassy. The headquarters of the Falangist Party appealed to members last night to make this a peaceful strike but it was obvious that many members are disregarding the appeal. The disturbances, which began within 24 hours of General Fuad Chehav taking office as Leoanon’s new President have not yet developed into serious clashes between Christian and Moslem groups. In view of the disturbances General Chehab is not expected to announce his government before tonight or tomorrow at the earliest.