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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Urgent meet held to resolve Ein el-Hellhole clashes |
| 2005-10-26 |
| An urgent two-hour meeting was held at the Hariri residence in Majdalyoun Tuesday to try and find a solution to the deadly skirmish that broke out near the Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp Sunday. On hand were MPs Osama Saad, Bahia Hariri, Hizbullah representative Sheikh Hassan Ezzeddine and Amal representative MP Ali Bazzi, in addition to local political, religious, security and commercial personalities. Participants highlighted the importance of lifting any political cover off of the perpetrators of the attacks, and urged the government and the Higher Relief Committee to compensate residents for any losses incurred in the firefight and to create a committee to follow up on the issue. The clashes, which left one man dead and four wounded, broke out Sunday between members of the disbanded Palestinian militia Jund al-Sham Brigades and armed Palestinian men from the neighborhood of Taamir. Speaking on behalf of the participants, Hariri stressed the government must exert its control over Taamir, which is located just outside of the refugee camp. "Making such a request signifies holding a dialogue; this is why a committee of joint parties was created," she said. Hariri indicated that the committee will soon convene and meet with all Palestinian parties that have expressed a willingness to hold discussions. However, she also expressed the participants' opposition to any form of a self-imposed security apparatus in the area. Meanwhile, shop owners in Taamir returned to business Tuesday, as things seemed to be returning to normal. Jund al-Sham official Ghani al-Sohmorani rejected responsibility for what he called "the passing individual clashes," and called for patience. Sohmorani, also known as Abu Ramez, denied allegations that there would be renewed violence if the wounded, currently in the hospital, should die. The imam of Al-Quds Mosque in Sidon, Sheikh Maher Hammoud, said talks are being held with Palestinian Islamic forces to secure the deployment of the army in the area. He added all parties in Sidon are discussing the deployment on the basis that the government only fills the security vacuum and does not exacerbate the problem, considering the concentration of forces from Usbat al-Ansar al-Islamiyya, Jund al-Sham and the Popular Nasserite Organization in the area. Abu Ramez ruled out accusations the government was prodding his group to stir tensions, stressing it was the government's role to arrest any individuals responsible for violence. Explaining the clashes broke out while he was in a meeting with representatives of MPs Saad, Hariri and Usbat al-Ansar, Abu Ramez said he had immediately ordered the attacks to stop and called for the arrest of those involved. However, Sohmorani accused some Taamir residents of collaborating with the army to create a security gap to demonstrate the necessity of disarming the Palestinian camps. He refused to allow the army into the camps, pledging that he will fight "to the death." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Anyone have any popcorn? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-10-26 14:49 |
| #4 its Pal vs Pal vs Lebanese. Lebanese trying (albeit gingerly) to use Pal civil war to reestablish their own authority. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2005-10-26 14:45 |
| #3 close the gates, turn off the Water. Lord of the Flies time |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-10-26 12:36 |
| #2 So, it's Palestinian against Palestinian, hmmmm. I say we drop ammunition on them. And badges, maybe they need some badges. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2005-10-26 10:52 |
| #1 Not just a meeting, an "urgent meeting". This should solve everything... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-10-26 10:17 |