LEBANON: NORWEGIAN TROOPS TAKE UP POSITIONS AS PART OF UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCE.

Record ID: 338495

  • Title: LEBANON: NORWEGIAN TROOPS TAKE UP POSITIONS AS PART OF UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCE.
  • Date: 4th April 1978
  • Summary: 1. CU United Nations flag ZOOM INTO hills around Litani river 0.05 2. GV Bridge across Litani river 0.06 3. MV Norwegian UN troops smoking 0.16 4. MV U.N. Land-Rover out on patrol 0.24 5. MV U.N. soldier in armoured car 0.29 6. MVs U.N. troops filling sandbags (3 shots) 0.45 7. CU Norwegian soldier (not named) makes statemen
  • Embargoed: 19th April 1978 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LITANI RIVER, SOUTH LEBANON
  • Country: Lebanon
  • Reuters ID: LVA8EWR7EBTKN6WD3DA74BWS2KU9
  • Story Text: Following a Norwegian Government offer to send 750 men to join the United Nations peace keeping force in Southern Lebanon, the first Norwegian soldiers have been taking up their positions in the peace-keeping buffer zone.

    SYNOPSIS: Most of the United Nations forces have been deployed along the Litani river. And one of the key strategic points is at Khardali, the river's most easterly bridging point. It was here that Swedish U.N. troops came under fire from Palestinians last month. These Swedish troops were moved to a more secure sector under a cloud of criticism over their conduct under fire, and were replaced by Norwegian troops. Following a statement last weekend by their Commanding Officer, Major-General Emmanuel Erskine, the new troops have been ordered to open fire, if necessary. One of them seemed content with his new military role.

    Both Lebanese Christians and Israelis have criticised the scope and limitations of the U.N. force. The Israelis claim that a 4,000-strong U.N. force cannot effectively police the 60-mile (100 kms) security line along the Litani, and that some Palestinian infiltration is inevitable. The worry also remains whether the U.N. troops have the authority to use force to prevent the Palestinians re-opening their supply routes, or whether they may only fire in cases of self-defence.
  • 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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