International Christian militiamen shell U.N. troops, defy Beirut forces

Press, 20 April 1979, Page 5

International Christian militiamen shell U.N. troops, defy Beirut forces

NZPA-Reuter Beirut Right-wing Christian militiamen have declared their border strongholds in southern Lebanon independent and have shelled both United Nations forces and Lebanese troops sent to assert State authority in the area.

The Right-wing declaration of a “free Lebanon” came after the deployment of 500 Lebanese troops, sent to the area to comply with United Nations Security Council demands and to establish at least a symbolic State presence in the "area.

The Right-wing militia also shelled the Lebanese troops’ headquarters in Derdghaiya. A Norwegian -oldier of the United Nations was killed, and another Norwegian and three Lebanese were hurt. Rightists shells also hit areas round the Irish United Nations battalion headquarters, killing two children. The United Nations said in New York that at least seven persons had earlier been wounded when the headquarters of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Lebanon came under heavy Rightist artillery and mortar fire. “It is one of the most violent attacks ever launched against the United Nations headquarters at Naqoura,” a spokesman Mr Francois Giuliani. told reporters at a special briefing. He quoted the Dutch United Nations officer in charge, General Jon Yadset, as assessing the situation as “very very serious.” There was also an earlier incident at Naqoura when, according to United Nations i sookesmen, Christian militia-; men tried to lay what ap-l peared to be explosives near' a Norwegian United Nations helicopter unit. They were! driven off by warning shots. ; Thousands of Lebanese! had peppered the Lebanese :

Army column with rice and roses, sacrificed sheep, and danced on the main coastal highway as the troops moved south from an overnight halt in the port of Sidon, their vehicles bedecked with flowers.

Palestinian guerrillas formed up in loose ranks as the column of trucks, armoured cars, and jeeps crossed the Litani River. The Palestinians made no attempt to interfere with the convoy.

The Lebanese Army deployment was regarded as a boost to the confidence of the Beirut Government, whose power has been fragmented by four years of civil strife and the presence on its soil of thousands of armed foreigners who both outgun and outnumber its own Army. The commander of Rightwing Christian forces in south Lebanon Major Said Haddad, told a press conference in Metullah, Israel, that the decision to declare an independent Lebanon in the south of the country had been taken at a meeting of representatives of the 100,000 inhabitants south of the Litani River, held earlier at Marjayoun. Major Haddad said the new independent region would recognise the authority of the Beirut Government again only after all Palestinian and Syrian troops had left Lebanon. Calling for the resignation of the Lebanese President (Mr Elias Sarkis) he described the Palestinians and Syrians as disruptive foreign forces. Major Haddad has been

disowned by the Lebanese Government

Major Haddad said his own forces had first been shelled by the Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese units moving-into the area. “This proves that they are all working hand-in-hand, and is proof that the Lebanese Army is controlled by the Syrians,” he said. Major Haddad said he had not consulted Israel before declaring an independent southern Lebanon, and had not had time to consider whether Israel -would sup-; port his move. A political structure for! the region would be considered later, he said. The area under the control of the Falangist militia led by Major Haddad covers some 900 sq. km in a margin 90km long by 10km deep along the Israel border. Its population includes some 60,000 Shiite Muslims and about 40,000 Maronite Christians, with some Druze residents. Major Haddad and his followers have not allowed troops of the United Nations forces in Lebanon to control the area.

In practical terms neither the Major’s declaration of independence nor the deployment of Lebanese troops is likely substantially to alter the military situation. The Israelis handed over the enclave to the militia when they withdrew after invading southern Lebanon in March, 1978. Since then the militias have refused to! bow to Beirut or the United | Nations, and have looked to Tel Aviv for support.