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