'Anti-Palestine group’ attacked envoy

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 8

'Anti-Palestine group’ attacked envoy

NZPA-Reuter Beirut A Lebanese underground organisation which says it opposes the Palestinian presence in Lebanon has claimed responsibility for an attempt on the United States Ambassador’s life. In a telephone call to Reuters’ Beirut bureau, a man identifying himself as a spokesman for the “Front for the Liberation of Lebanon from Foreigners” said the organisation was responsible for attacking Mr John Gunther Dean’s'car in Beirut; on Wednesday night. Mr Dean and his aides] escaped unhurt from the am-i bush. Informed sources said! two suspects arrested near,] the scene of the attack had] since been released. i If the claim is ..genuine, the attack would . appear to be a response to recent statements by Mr Dean condemning Israeli raids on Palestinian targets, in south Lebanon. The Palestinians and their leftist Lebanese allies effectively .control the southern

1 sector- of Lebanon up to the I United Nations peace-keep-ing buffer zone. . The region has been the scene of frequent clashes over the last two weeks between Israeli and Palestinian forces. The caller said the motive for the attack was “Washington’s responsibility for the present situation in Lebanon.” The front has claimed responsibility in the past for attacks on Palestinian and Syrian targets. Syrian forces have been stationed in Lebanon since Damascus intervened to end the Lebanese civil war in 1976. The Lebanese Defence Minister (Mr Joseph Skaf) said the attack on Mr Dean “comes after positive statements made by Ambassador Dean concerning the latest Israeli aggression on south Lebanon.”

Bashir Gemayel, commander of the Rightist Pha-langist-dominated Lebanese forces, which oppose the Palestinian presence in Lebanon, also condemned the attack.