Syria keeps up pressure

Press, 15 October 1976, Page 5

Syria keeps up pressure

NZPA-Reuter Beirut The Syrian Army yesterday kept up heavy pressure on Palestinian commandos in the hills south-east of Beirut after fierce fighting forced the postponement of talks aimed at ending Lebano i’s 18-month-old civil war. The new round of fighting began on Tuesday, barely 12 hours after Syrian, Palestinian, and Lebanese negotiators had drawn up tl.e most specific peace plan yet, in the eastern Lebanese town of Shtoura. A further meeting, set ">r Wednesday, has been postponed indefinitely. Syrian artillery and rocket fire has been falling on the Leftist-held towns of Aley and Bhamdoun, blocking the road to Syrian-controlled Shtoura for Palestinian commando representatives. All crossing points between Leftist-controlled areas in Lebanon and those held by the Syrians and the Right were closed on Wednesday — a relatively rare coincidence in fighting on three fronts.

While Syrian artillery pounded Bhamdoun, sniping and shelling made the route between the front lines in Beirut impassable. A roundabout route from the southern coast to the Syrian-held Bekaa Valley was also closed, although a Reuter correspondent who visited the vicinity of Kleya said fighting around the Rightist-held town near the Israeli border was relatively light.

Reports from Bhamdoun said Palestinian commandos with anti-tank rockets had driven back a Syrian tank assault. Palestinian officials said the town was still in Leftist and Palestinian hands.

Strong Syrian forces in nearby hills have been threatening Bhamdoun since a major offensive brought them to the gates of the town two weeks ago. In the hills behind Sider — a vital port for for supplies reaching .eftist-held western Beirut — Syrian forces pushed a few miles forward after heavy artillery barrages.

The capture of the town of Roum in a sir-hour tank and infantry assault on Tuesday brought the Syrians across a deep valley which represents the only major obstacle before Sidon, 10 miles to the west

The fighting of the past three days has confirmed the convincing superiority of the Syrians over the outnumbered and outgunned commandos. It has also extracted the largest concessions so far from Palestinian leaders, who promised at the Shtoura talks to withdraw from the battlefield if a cease-fire could be guaranteed. Palestinian sources said that, despite the cancellation of the main meeting, contacts between the commandos and the Syrians continued.