G30058802

(24 May 1988) QUOTE REF LEBANON/FRANCE; 2,400 Syrian troops, armed with light weapons
GS30058802 and rocket propelled grenades finally enter southern suburbs
30.5.88 of Beirut, bringing to an end three weeks of fighting between
pro-Iranian Hezbollah and pro-Syrian Amal militias. The
arrival of the Syrian troops was welcomed by local people who
threw rice as a sign of greeting, although there was no sign
of the western hostages and one more, a Belgian doctor
working for the Norwegian Aid Committee, NORWAC, Dr Jan
Cools, was missing, feared captured. A NORWAC official, Evan
Sagedal, explained they now could not work in southern
Lebanon and were withdrawing their staff to West Beirut,
warning foreigners to stay out of southern Lebanon. The
Israeli armed forces attacked Hezbollah positions in southern
Lebanon and met fierce resistence from Hezbollah and Amal
forces who buried their differences to fight what Israeli
Chief of Staff, Gen Dan Shomron, described as a necessary
attack on a Hezbollah stronghold. Syrian military
intelligence chief Ghazi Kenaan, Hezbollah spiritual leader,
Shiek Fadlallah and Moslem High Council member Sheik Mohammed
Chamsaddine, met to ensure that the Syrian troop deployment
did not encounter resistence from the militias. By the
end of the three weeks of fighting the Hezbollah had gained
ground in southern Beirut and Amal won positions in southern
Lebanon at a cost of 250 lives and 250,000 people displaced.
Recently released journalist, Jean-Paul Kauffmann, criticised
the British government over its inactivity in relation to its
hostages held in Lebanon. date shot 24-30.5.88
Engl com+trans+interview/Arabic sp WTN/T30058803 13.03mins
GS TAPE & CASSETTE GS300588 t/i 9.09
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shows;
LEBANON 24.5.88 vs building being fired upon. vs Amal )
Beirut militia men firing, shattered buildings and )
gunfire. vs Syrian troops behind sandbags. ls ) WTN
smoke rising over suburbs. vs injured in )
hospital. vs Islamic text. )
S.Beirut 24.5.88 vs Hizbollah rally, slogans, fists in )
air and chanting. vs religious leaders at front)
of demo. vs banners of Khomeini, women in black) WTN
dress, children with banners. )
S.LEBANON 25.5.88 vs exts Dr Jan Cools house, arabic sign)
UN aid agency sign, UN flag, NORWAC sign, exts ) WTN
building. )
S.Beirut 26.5.88 vs Syrian troop positions. vs burning )
building. vs firing, damage, streets and ) WTN
crossroads. vs Iranian flag, streets. )
S.LEBANON 25.5.88 vs Israeli tanks firing. ls Hezbollah )
village. vs Israeli jet, smoke rising, troops ) WTN
move into hills. vs Gen Dan Shomron pkf )
Ein El 26.5.88 vs a'math Israeli raid, damage to house)
Hilweh Camp cars, rubble. ) WTN
S.Beirut 27.5.88 vs Syrian troops deployed. vs empty )
streets. ) WTN
GS30058802

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