Druse grip tightens

Press, 17 February 1984, Page 1

Druse grip tightens

NZPA-Reuter Beirut Muslim Druse militia consolidated new lines around Beirut yesterday after a big victory over the United States-backed . Lebanese Army deepened a factionwar crisis confronting the President, Mr Amin Gemayel. Mr Gemayel sent a senior envoy for talks with a close associate of his Syrianbacked opponent, Mr Walid Jumblatt, on Wednesday in the wake of a fast-changing military situation. Refugees took advantage of a break in fighting to flee to the Israeli-occupied south

of Lebanon and United States Marines at Beirut Airport tried to come to terms with the fact that after Wednesday’s, decisive battles, all their escape routes were cut off by Druse militiamen. The Druse victory opened for the Muslim militias a vital corridor linking Beirut with the Chouf mountains and gave them a large slice of central Lebanon. Within hours of the victory, the Druse chieftain, Mr Jumblatt, set up a new military structure to run affairs in Beirut and other areas held by nationalist

forces. At the same time he had indirect contact through aides with Mr Gemayel with whom he again insisted there would be no compromise or dialogue. In Washington, the “Washington Post” reported that Mr Gemayel has agreed to an eight-point plan including abrogation of the United States-mediated agreement with Israel on troop withdrawals. Quoting unnamed American and diplomatic sources, the newspaper said that the plan was described as a “package deal.”

It included rapprochement among warring factions in Lebanon, withdrawal of Syrian and Israeli forces and replacement of the multinational peacekeeping force by a United Nations force. The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud, was reeportedly flying to Damascus to seek the approval of the Syrian President, Mr Hafez Assad. Muslim militias encircled the Marines’ base at Beirut Airport on its three landward sides after seizing a swath of territory from the Lebanese Army.