Border tension rises as envoys are called home

Press, 13 February 1981, Page 7

Border tension rises as envoys are called home

NZPA-Reuter Beirut A simmering conflict between Syria and Jordan deepened yesterday after they withdrew from a joint border post and recalled their respective ambassadors. Official sources in Damascus told NZPA-Reuter that Syrian, officials had established a separate immigration post, arid that Ambassador Abdel-Karim Sabbagh would leave Jordan within 48 hours. The moves followed similar decisions by the Jordanian authorities, and Arab diplomatic sources in Beirut said they marked the worst crisis between the two countries since a military confrontation at the border last November. The conflict sharpened last week after a Syrian assassination squad was said to have been arrested in Jordan and a senior Jordanian diplomat was kidnapped in Beirut Jordan accused Syrian military intelligence of abducting its charge d’affaires in Beirut Hisham Moheisen, last Friday, but Syria dismissed the charge as part

of what it termed a campaign of hatred. There was still no word on the fate of the 42-year-old diplomat, and security sources said hopes of finding him alive were fading. Well-informed sources in Amman told NZPAReuter that about a dozen' Syrians, led by an Army colonel, were being held in prison after confessing that they had been - sent to ; icill the Jordanian Prime _A Minister (Mr Mbdar . Badran). The diplomatic sources said that despite the rising tension, closing of the I border was unlikely because of the economic importance of transit trade to both countries. Eye-witnesses reported that traffic was still flowing across the border in both directions yesterday, I but it was being delayed by stringent security checks. The Lebanese President (Mr Elias Sarkis) told a weekly Cabinet meeting i yesterday that security forces had been instructed to increase protection for >- diplomats and their missions in Beirut.