Dozens die in Beirut violence

Press, 13 June 1984, Page 10

Dozens die in Beirut violence

NZPA-AFP Beirut Fifty-four people were killed and 234 wounded in the worst day of shelling in and around Beirut since February 6, according to latest hospital statistics. The violence came on the eve of yesterday’s confidence vote in the Government of the Prime Minister, Rashid Karami. The vote, which would enable the Government to launch its peace programme, was to have been held on Monday. But Parliament was adjourned under fierce shelling after failing

to obtain a quorum. Heavy artillery fire pounded all residential areas of Beirut and its suburbs — from Jounieh, 20km to the north, to Choueifate, in the south — including the area around the presidential palace at Baabda.

Casualties were particularly heavy along the “green line” dividing Muslim and Christian Beirut. Twenty soldiers were wounded when a shell hit the West Beirut business district of Hamra, and 10 ale were killed when a crashed into a

parking lot in the Zarif quarter.

One of the parking-lot victims was identified as a photographer, Adnan Karake, of the Beirut Eng-lish-language newspaper the “Daily Star.”

Doctors at the American hospital in Beirut said the carnage was some of the worst “since the Israeli invasion” in 1982. Fires broke out in various parts of the capital. Three firemen were killed and seven wounded when a shell hit their barracks.

Another shell exploded on an ambulance with two

medical aides inside. About 10 Lebanese policemen were wounded along the “green line.” Schools in both halves of Beirut also came under fire. Appeals for blood were broadcast over loudspeakers and Beirut radio stations as parents hurried through streets to get their children from school. A ceasefire was finally arranged by the military commission representing the Army and Shi’ite, Druse and Christian militias. Afterwards, the shelling lessened in intensity, but

fighting continued all along the “green line.”

Meanwhile the Lebanese Forces (United Christian Militia) and Amal Shi’ite movement blamed each other for starting the latest violence.

A communique from the' first group alleged that the Amal chief, Nabih Berri, had ordered his artillery to shell the Parliament area and Christian zones. Amai charged that the "ruling party,” meaning Falangist Christians, and the Army “had committed a massacre by shelling west Beirut and the southern suburbs."