Refugees return to Lebanon

Press, 18 December 1976, Page 8

Refugees return to Lebanon

NZPA-Reuter Beirut Half a million of Lebanon’s refugees from the civil war — about one sixth of the country’s population — have returned home from other countries since the truce was imposed by the Arab League peace-keeping force.

The figure was obtained from consular, airline and government officials who estimated that this number had driven home across the mountains from Damascus or atrived by air. Another half a million Lebanese have yet to return, according to some officials. Most of those who left Lebanon’s shattered capital and other cities during the 19 months of civil war between Right-wing Christians and a Leftist Palestinian alliance went to neighbouring Syria. But about 40,000 are believed to have gone to Egypt, 30,000 to Jordan, and others to Saudi Arabia, Gulf States and Europe.

Two jumbo jets of Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines are arriving each day filled with returning war refugees. One of them told a reporter at Britu’s Khalde airport: “Better the danger off shells in Lebanon than life abroad

Rival groups of Palestinian commandos clashed in

Beirut on Thursday night firing automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. Palestinian sources said the fighting was between pro-Syrian Saiqa commandos and supporters of the Palestinian Rejection Front. They said some people had been wounded.

The fighting took place in the darkened streets of the Burj Brajneh district of Beirut.

Syrian troops of the Arab peace-keeping force manned road blocks in the area. A local resident close to one road block said the fighting was heavy. Saiqa commandos withdrew from camps here after the Syrian Army last June entered the Lebanese civil war on the side of Christian Rightists, against a LeftistPalestinian Alliance. But they have been returning since November 15 when the Syrians, in a new role as an Arab League peace force, imposed a truce in the civil war.

The Rejection Front, led by Dr George Habash’s Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, enjoys the support of Iraq. It takes its name from its policy of rejecting any negotiated settlement of the Palestine issue with Israel.