Beirut fighting starts again

Press, 2 June 1984, Page 10

Beirut fighting starts again

NZPA-Reuter Beirut A fresh upsurge of fighting in and around Beirut has underlined the fragility of Lebanon’s month-old Government as it asks Parliament to approve its plans to reunite the country. Christian and Muslim forces began bombarding each other’s areas yesterday just hours after the Prime Minister, Mr Rashid Karami, presented his National Unity Government’s far-reaching programme to free the south

from Israeli occupation, end nine years of civil strife, and alter the constitution in favour of Muslims. Clashes raged along the “Green Line” between Muslim forces in west Beirut and loyalist Army units and a Christian militia in the east, radio stations and residents said. A Christian radio station said 30 people, including a guard at the Presidential Palace in Baabda and two soldiers, were wounded in the exchanges, which set fire to forests in

r the hills above the capital. The gunners had held their fire as members of the House met amid tight security at the Parliament building to hear Mr Karami read a policy statement he expects them to endorse next week. By including the leaders of the main Christian and Muslim militias in his nineman Cabinet, the Prime Minister had hoped to reduce the level of violence. But Cabinet meetings have often been preceded by

bouts of shelling that killed more than 50 people and wounded about 400 in Mr Karami’s three weeks in office. Yesterday’s clashes are seen as reflecting the deep divisions that still exist between the Christian and Muslim camps over issues such as the role of the Army. Since last September Army units loyal to President Amin Gemayel have fought with Christian forces against Druse and Shi’ite militias.