Lebanon ready to break Israeli accord?

Press, 29 February 1984, Page 10

Lebanon ready to break Israeli accord?

NZPA-Reuter Beirut Factional warfare in Lebanon killed at least two more people and wounded 30 as efforts to find a political solution dragged on.

A Saudi Arabian-negoti-ated cease-fire announced late last week has failed as have hundreds before it. Fighting persisted between rebel Muslim militias on one side and the Lebanese Army and Right-wing Christian militias on the other.

A possible political solution to the fighting is now focused on an Americannegotiated troop withdrawal accord between Lebanon and Israel signed last May. The Druse and Shi’ite Muslim opposition forces, backed by Syria, want the accord scrapped because it would give Israeli a policing role in southern Lebanon after a withdrawal of the Israeli troops now in the area.

Many of the supporters of Maronite Christian President Mr Amin Gemayel, want the accord ratified. Official sources aid that Mr Gemayel, severely weakened by big defeats inflicted this month on the army by the rebel militias, was ready to abrogate the Lebanese-Israeli agreement. They said he was waiting for guarantees from Syria that, in return for abrogation, it would eventually withdraw its 40,000 troops now occupying much of east and north Lebanon. Lebanese radio stations yesterday said that two people died and more than 30 were wounded in artillery attacks on residential areas of Christian east Beirut and the Muslim-held west.

Sporadic artillery duels, mortar and rocket attacks, machine-gun exchanges and sniper fire echoed throughout the day and night across the “green line” dividing Beirut and the front lines in the mountains east of the capital.

The United States has withdrawn its special Middle East envoy, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, from diplomatic efforts over Lebanon where until recently he spent much of his time. State Department officials said that in spite of increased violence in Beirut, diplomatic offices would be maintained there.