Alliance of Right backs Franjieh

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34106, 19 March 1976, Page 13

Alliance of Right backs Franjieh

(N Z P A.Reuter—Copyright) BEIRUT, March 18. President Suleiman Franjieh’s defiant weekold stand against military overthrow has been reinforced by both an alliance of Rightwing supporters at home and in Syria.

The alliance appeared to be the main outcome of intensive contacts between Syrian leaders and groups of Palestinian leaders and Lebanese politicians who have crossed the border to Damascus in recent days.

The Right-wing Phalangist party of Mr Pierre Gemayel said last right that president Hafez Al-Assad was opposed to Mr Franjieh’s being ousted by force, and wanted all military operations in Lebanon halted while a political settlement was found. This sentiment was echoed in an official Syrian statement saying that President Assad, who met Phalangist leader' - it Damaseus earlier in the week, had urged Lebanon’s coup leaders to exercise. self-restraint.

But Army rebels and Leftwing gunmen were still poised for an all-out attack on the Presidential palace yesterday, and observers questioned how long their pent-up hopes of overthrowing Mr Franjieh could be contained by Syrian pressure. The rebels moved into

positions only six miles from the palace four days ago, and their nominal leader, Lieutenant Ahmed Al Khatib, repeated last night that military measures would be used if political efforts failed.

Phalangist militiamen attacked the Beirut office of a Palestinian guerrilla group yesterday, but were repulsed in a battle in a Beirut slum area.

A spokesman for the front said two Phalangists and two guerrilla defenders had been killed in the battle for th' office of the Democratic Front, for the Liberation of Palestine.

Attempts to oust the President began a week ago today when the Beirut garrison commander, General Aziz Al-Ahdab demanded that the President resign) within 24 hours, and a new

head of State be elected within seven days. General Ahdab has now said he is ' backing Syrian efforts to find a political solution, and his second deadline looks like expiring without being met, as did the first.

President Assad is facing an uphill task to reconcile the bitterly-divided factions, an influential Left-wing leader, Mr Kamal Junblatt, insisting that Mr Franjieh resign without his departure being conditional on a successor being found.

In sharp contrast to this, the Phalangists and Lebanon’s leading pro-Syrian politician, Mr Assem Qanso. made clear they did not favour President Franjieh’s being j ushed from office by the combined efforts of LeftI ists, dissident troops, and the leaders of last Tburs'day’s faltering <-oup.