LEBANON: LIFE RETURNING TO NORMAL AT PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMPS AS SYRIAN TROOPS APPEAR IN BEIRUT TO POLICE A TRUCE.

Record ID: 274788

  • Title: LEBANON: LIFE RETURNING TO NORMAL AT PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMPS AS SYRIAN TROOPS APPEAR IN BEIRUT TO POLICE A TRUCE.
  • Date: 6th July 1986
  • Summary: 1. GV PAN DOWN FROM Shelled building TO people walking through Shatila camp (2 shots) 0.13 2. SVs People buying food (4 SHOTS) 0.32 3. GV PAN DOWN FROM Wrecked building TO United Nations (UN) truck and from UN flag TO shelled building and people in camp streets (4 shots) 0.56 4. CU & GV PANS Barber in wrecked shop with bullet marks on wall PAN TO wrecked buildings and
  • Embargoed: 21st July 1986 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7TEMPGOMNA45II2EEE6SH50C4
  • Story Text: BEIRUT, LEBANON

    Life appeared to be returning to normal on July 5 at the Sabra, Shatila and Bourj al-Barajneh refugee camps in Beirut. The Palestinian camps have been the scene of fierce fighting between Shi'ite Amal militiamen and Palestinian gunmen. According to Amal, fighters loyal to Yasser Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) had been trying to extend their control beyond the settlements in an attempt to become a military power in Beirut again. About 160 people died in five weeks of fighting until a Syrian-sponsored truce announced on June 14 gradually put an end to the hostilities. The camps had been virtually under siege during the battles, but after the ceasefire food was again available as the United Nations (UN) moved in with supplies. About 500 Syrian security men, military observers and special forces troops were deployed at key points in West Beirut to police the truce. It was the first appearance of Syrian troops in the city since they withdrew in the wake of the Israeli invasion in 1982. The Syrians were checking traffic movement, cars and drivers' papers in an effort to crack down on the anarchic guerrilla violence in the mainly Moslem sector of the city. The military move by Damascus received a guarded welcome from Finance Minister Camille Chamoun, a staunch Christian who had previously been a critic of Syrian involvement in Lebanon. The 86-year-old former president told reporters that if the intervention signalled an end to the war in West Beirut and a start to ending war in Lebanon, then it was not bad.

    <strong>Source: REUTERS - MAHMOUD MAHFOUZ</strong>
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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