Beirut peace hopes rise

Press, 28 April 1981, Page 8

Beirut peace hopes rise

NZPA-Reuter Beirut The Syrian and Lebanese Foreign Ministers have voiced unexpected optimism about prospects for peace in Lebanon, despite continued bitter fighting between Syrian troops and Christian militiamen. Abdel-Halim Khaddam of Syria said after a day of talks in Damascus with Lebanon's Fuad Butros that he hoped for "practical steps that will lead to the achievement of national accord and realisation of security and peare in Lebanon ... ”. Speaking on Beirut Radio, he said he believed the Presidents of Lebanon and Syria were determined to achieve peace, and that ttye majority of Lebanese wanted an end to a situation which was “painful and. distressing not only to the Lebanese but also to us.” He plans to visit Beirut today. Mr Butros, describing his talks in Damascus as “useful, positive, and fruitful,” said that Mr Khaddam would come to help “translate the principles of accord into practical terms.” The Syrian troops of the Arab Deterrent Force in Lebanon and the Christian militias were yesterday locked in a desperate struggle for the Sannin Heights separating the Bekaa Valley to the east from the Christian-dominated western coastal strip. The Syrians’ Leftist Lebanese allies claimed that they

and the Arab Deterrent Force wrested control of a vital strongpoint on the main peak from the Christians, but the Right-wing Falangist Party said they were still holding on to it. The second day of fighting, in the area witnessed a Syrian onslaught with artillery barrages and helicopterborne rocket attacks on Rightist positions, the Falangists said. The Arab Deterrent Force, which entered Lebanon to end the 1975-76 civil war, has made no comment on the clashes. As the battle was raging, Israeli planes swooped on the Mediterranean port of Sidon, south of Beirut, to attack what the Israelis said was a Palestinian guerrilla target on the • north-eastern outskirts of the town. Hospital sources said that at least 15 people were killed and 40 injured in the midafternoon raid, the third air strike by Israel in Lebanon in the last 10 days. A Syrian military spokesman 'in Damascus said Syrian fighters had shot down two Israeli planes for the loss of one of their own. The Israelis denied that there had been any aerial combat. Sporadic shooting broke out yesterday between rival gunners in divided Beirut, and a Lebanese Leftist group said it had fired mortars at the Christian port of Jounieh to the north. <