Eighth truce fails

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33985, 28 October 1975, Page 17

Eighth truce fails

fN.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright) I BEIRUT, October 27. | Machine-gun fire and explosions rattled across central and suburban Beirut tonight shattering the eighth cease-tire, which was supposed to include all the warring factions responsible for the latest violence. The Prime Minister (Mr Rashid Karami) told reporters that the cease-fire was agreed to by all parties at an emergency Cabinet meeting. But less than two hours after he spoke, shooting was reported in the Dekwaneh-El Zaatar region in the northeast of the capital and in the Shiah-Ain Remmaneh sector to the south-east. Automatic weapons fighting and explosion continued unabated at the Kantari area, ( near the modern city centre. ( Police said at. least 23 people were killed in Beirut I and the southern port of Tyre today, bringing the known death toll for the past six months of civil war in Leba-

(non to at least 1700. Today’s cease-fire agree- , ment was the eighth of its kind to.be reached during the ■?!past month of violence. The J repeated collapses of truce J arrangements have left the ’lbattle-wearv people of Beirut '(very sceptical of cease-fire > announcements. r The Prime Minister said ‘.(that there was “a full and frank” exchange of views at the meeting and that ' all sides were being contacted ; to ensure implementation of I the cease-fire. A former Prime Minister (Mr Saeb Salam), an influen- ; tial member of the Beirut 1s- ; lamic community, has bitterly I attacked the Maronite Christian president (Mr Suleiman : Frangieh), accusing him of ■ “hatching a plot against the country.” Mr Salam said all the PreI sident’s reactions to date .("have been set in terms of . I hatred, and all citizens have noticed that since the be- ; I ginning of the events he has ■ not addressed the people. • “The citizens can no longer : put up with this hateful dictatorship.”

• In Damascus. official (sources said that about 200,000 Lebanese have fled to Syria in the past few dais following the latest flare-up. Syrian officials are follow ing developments in Lebanon with great concern.

The sources said laigc quantities of food have been sent to Lebanon and Syrian • fire brigades have been urgently dispatched to Beirut Ito help fight fires there. In London, "The Times” commented: "The Left, with the Palestinians behind then), now have a feeling of military as well as political strength. The State has all but ceased to exist, and certainly lacks the authority to restore order. "The result is the present bloody stalemate, which is rapidly destroying the human and physical fabric of the country. Already the nightmare non-solution of partitions is seriously discussed, though so far rejected by all sides.

“And the Israelis arr- al most dving of laughter.”