LEBANON: SAUDI ARABIAN TROOPS SET UP BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN RIGHT AND LEFT WING FACTIONS IN MUSEUM SECTION OF BEIRUT.

Record ID: 189753

  • Title: LEBANON: SAUDI ARABIAN TROOPS SET UP BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN RIGHT AND LEFT WING FACTIONS IN MUSEUM SECTION OF BEIRUT.
  • Date: 22nd July 1976
  • Summary: 1. GV's Saudi troops in streets patrolling and directing traffic. (2 shots) 0.26 2. SV Armoured car in street. 0.30 3. CU Saudi soldier on guard. 0.38 4. GV's and CU Soldier on duty in street. (3 shots) 1.04 5. GV Troops and armoured vehicle on street. 1.18 Following the establishment of the Saudi positions, the Arab League Liaison Officer, Dr. Hassan Sabri al-Kholi, crossed into the rightist-held eastern section of Beirut for talks with Falangist leaders on the League's peace-making efforts. On Wednesday (21 July) a Palestinian delegation left for talks in Damascus accompanied by the Libyan Prime Minister Abdel-Salem Jalloud. Major Jalloud has been trying for weeks to reconcile the two sides. Initials VS 2.30 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th August 1976 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVAAG04MMD8B64N2P0JNRVWMZD6H
  • Story Text: At least three Saudi Arabian soldiers of the Arab League peace-keeping force have been wounded in incidents near a crossing point between sections of the city hold by right-wing and leftist forces. About 150 Saudi troops moved into the area on Wednesday (21 July).

    SYNOPSIS: The Saudis quickly established control of a buffer zone to the west of the crossing point....previously held by leftist forces. Before taking over, there was some shelling, but within hours of moving into position the saudis were able to supervise a peaceful flow of traffic through the area. It is the first buffer zone established between the warring factions in the Lebanese civil war.

    Fifteen armoured cars carried the peace-keeping force into Beirut's Museum district. They took up positions under agreements reached between the right-wing Falangist Party and the Palestine Liberation Organisation which is allied with left-wing Lebanese.

    The zone controlled by the Saudis is the only part of Beirut where it is possible to cross lines between the warring factions.

    The commander of the Saudi detachment said it was still not possible to guarantee the safety of those wishing to cross the lines. However, negotiations are continuing in efforts to ensure the success of Beirut's first buffer zone.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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