EAST-WEST FIGHTING -- SITUATION AS OF 1200Z --

S E C R E T BEIRUT 01229 E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: MOPS PGOV LE SUBJECT: EAST-WEST FIGHTING -- SITUATION AS OF 1200Z -- MESSAGE FROM NABIH BERRI; SHELLING RESUMES IN YARZE/HAZMIEH/PORT/JOUNIEH AREAS REF: BEIRUT 1227 ¶1. SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT. ¶2. AT 1100Z AMBASSADOR WAS CONTACTED BY REPRESENTATIVE OF AMAL LEADER NABIH BERRI, WHO SAID BERRI WANTED AMBASSADOR TO KNOWN THAT AMAL HAD NOT RPT NOT INITIATED THE SHELLING MORNING OF MARCH 14. BERRI WAS VERY CONCERNED AT THE NUMBER OF INNOCENT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES (18 DEAD AND MORE THAN FIFTY WOUNDED) AND WARNED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ESCALATING AND SPREADING VIOLENCE IF THE SITUATION WAS NOT BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. ¶3. AT THE SAME TIME CALL WAS UNDERWAY, HEAVY SHELLING OF YARZE/HAZMIEH AREA FROM THE WEST RESUMED, BREAKING THE CALM WHICH HAD PREVAILED SINCE 0600Z THIS MORNING. IN RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR'S QUERY, HIS INTERLOCUTOR DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF WHO IN THE WEST WAS RESPONSIBLE, BUT SAID HE WOULD CHECK INTO THE MATTER. ¶4. CONTINUING HEAVY FIRE IMPACTING IN HAZMIEH, BEIRUT PORT AND IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE MOD IS CONTINUING AS OF TIME OF DRAFTING (1145Z),WITH REPORTED SHELLS NOW HITTING THE VICINITY OF JOUNIEH. LAF IS RESPONDING WITH OUTGOING FIRE. ¶5. NO RPT NO ROUNDS HAVE IMPACTED CLOSE TO THE YARZE RESIDENCE WHERE AMBASSADOR IS PRESENT. REPORTS FROM ACTING DATT, WHO IS PRESENT AT MOD, INDICATE TWO OMC FSN'S WERE SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. ALL STAFF AT MOD ARE CURRENTLY IN SHELTERS. SITUATION AROUND AUKAR COMPOUND IS QUIET. MCCARTHY