Peace plan ‘drawn up for Lebanon’

Press, 24 September 1983, Page 10

Peace plan ‘drawn up for Lebanon’

NZPA Beirut United States and Saudi mediators are reported to have worked out a comprehensive peace plan to halt the Lebanon war and convene a Muslim-Christian national reconciliation conference in Saudi Arabia. Beirut Radio stations and newspapers reported yesterday that President Amin Gemayel’s pro-American Administration and the Soviet-backed Government of Syria were due tb make a final decision on the new plan within 24 hours.

If the plan is approved, a cease-fire policed by 600 United Nations observers will be called, and King Fahd of Saudi Arabia would issue invitations to Mr Gemayel and leaders of warring Lebanese factions to begin a reconciliation dialogue either in the Saudi capital of Riyadh or the Red Sea port of Jidda. News of the peace blueprint came after eight hours of talks which the American presidential envoy, Robert C. McFarlane, and the Saudi mediator, Rafik Hariri, held with Mr Gemayel. The leaked report coincided with the imminent arrival of the giant American battleship, U.S.S. New Jersey, in Lebanese waters to reinforce an American naval contingent supporting United States Marines in the multi-national peace-keep-ing force.

The 270-metre vessel was expected to take up position with 14 other American warships off the Beirut coast.

Meanwhile, French fighter planes have attacked artillery positions behind Syrian lines in Lebanon, the first time a member of the peace-keeping force had used air strikes against anti-Government forces.

The jets struck after six more French soldiers were wounded and an Italian Army ammunition dump was hit by rockets in an artillery and rocket barrage in Beirut.

In Washington, the House Foreign Affairs Committee overwhelmingly approved a plan to keep the Marines in Lebanon 18 months longer.