LEBANON: PALESTINIAN REFUGEES STAGE RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SYRIA IN ITS ROW WITH TURKEY OVER ALLEGED SUPPORT FOR KURDISH REBELS

Record ID: 215348

  • Title: LEBANON: PALESTINIAN REFUGEES STAGE RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SYRIA IN ITS ROW WITH TURKEY OVER ALLEGED SUPPORT FOR KURDISH REBELS
  • Date: 12th October 1998
  • Summary: AIN AL-HILWEH, LEBANON (OCTOBER 11, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. TV/LV PALESTINIANS MARCHING ALONG CROWDED STREET IN REFUGEE CAMP (2 SHOTS) 0.23 2. SLV MARCHERS CARRYING GUNS AND POSTERS OF SYRIAN PRESIDENT HAFEZ AL-ASSAD, SHOUTING PRO-SYRIAN SLOGANS (3 SHOTS) 1.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th October 1998 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon, MIDDLE EAST, ASIA
  • City:
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA7JL4357BRHIZGTGNLXHR46538
  • Story Text: Some 500 Palestinian refugees have staged a rally in support of Syria in its row with Turkey over Damascus' alleged support for Kurdish rebels.

    The demonstrators, supporters of Syrian-backed hardline Palestinian groups in Lebanon, marched through Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon Sunday (October 11) carrying posters of Syrian President Hafez al-Assad and banners denouncing Turkey.

    Turkey has accused Syria of waging an "undeclared war" by backing Kurdish separatist guerrillas fighting for autonomy in the southeast over the past 14 years.Damascus denies the charge.

    Turkish leaders have threatened military action if Syria does not hand over Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan, widely thought to live in Damascus.

    Syria denies helping Ocalan and has also sought support from Arab countries, drawing on regional suspicions over informal military cooperation between Turkey and Israel.

    The Turkey-Syria row, which surprised foreign governments with its suddenness and ferocity, has exposed the suspicion many Arab countries feel towards Turkey since Ankara struck up an informal military alliance with Israel.

    Turkey's foreign minister has called for support from Arab countries in its dispute with Syria.

    The 22-member Arab group at the United Nations has expressed solidarity with Syria and rejected what it called Turkish threats to Damascus.The group called on NATO-member Turkey to exercise the utmost restraint.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register