LEBANON: Right wing militia criticise United Nation forces for alleged inefficiency
Record ID:
862889
LEBANON: Right wing militia criticise United Nation forces for alleged inefficiency
- Title: LEBANON: Right wing militia criticise United Nation forces for alleged inefficiency
- Date: 20th November 1981
- Summary: RASHAF, LEBANON (VISNEWS - EITAN ARBEL) GV PULL BACK UN Checkpoint on outskirts of Rashaf GV UN checkpoint on road (2 shots) SV UN soldiers taking positions SV UN soldiers turning back man who drops box of fruit on road CU PULL BACK GV UN troops behind stone wall GV UN checkpoint SCU Major Haddad speaking to reporters (3 shots) SPEECH (TRANSCRIPT) (SEQ 7): HADDAD: "If, anyhow, we reach, we reach any of them, it will be the end of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. Even if they will die from hunger or from sickness, I pull all the responsibility upon the shoulders of Callaghan and his people."
- Embargoed: 5th December 1981 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Lebanon, Lebanon
- City:
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAB9XRQ8CQL7W7HWRHA20Q1J590
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: The leader of the right-wing Christian militia forces in Southern Lebanon, Major Saad Haddad, has criticised United Nations peace-keeping force in the region for not effectively controlling the Palestinian guerrillas.His attack came after three militiamen were killed by a landmine explosion.He said the guerrillas had now infiltrated a strip of territory along the Israeli border which, he claimed the U.N.forces could have prevented.The situation seriously deteriorated when militiamen mounted a three day siege against the U.N.forces in retaliation to the isolating of a militia unit by the international force.
SYNOPSIS: The United Nations Interim force, otherwise known as UNIFIL, moved in against the Christian militia force in the small village of Rashaf.
They cut off all access to the village in the hope of forcing Major Haddad's men to leave the area.The hillside, where the village is located, is a disputed area and is traditionally controlled by the United Nations force.The detachment of Irish soldiers who were given the task of maintaining the blockade, stopped and searched villagers they found on the road.They also went to some lengths to prevent food supplies entering the village.
To strike back at the UN force, the militiamen surrounded more than a thousand UN military and civilian staff at Naqoura and destroyed the town's water supply -- an action later publicly defended by Major Haddad.
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