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DATE=5/23/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LEBANON / WITHDRAWAL (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262696
BYLINE=EDWARD YERANIAN
DATELINE=BEIRUT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:   More Lebanese civilians are returning home to 
villages recently evacuated by Israel and the Israeli-
backed South Lebanon Army militia  (S-L-A).  Edward 
Yeranian in Beirut reports hundreds of members of the 
S-L-A have also surrendered to the Lebanese army. 
TEXT:  S-L-A militiamen continue to surrender to the 
Lebanese army as the militia loses the backing of the 
Israeli army, which is pulling out of southern 
Lebanon.
The spokesman for the United Nations UNIFIL 
peacekeeping force, Timor Goksel, said most of the S-
L-A militiamen in the western sector of the Israeli-
occupied area of southern Lebanon had surrendered.  
But he said a large part of the eastern sector remains 
intact.
Several S-L-A militiamen fired at a crowd of civilians 
who tried to storm the militia-controlled prison in 
the town of Khiam.  Lebanese government television 
reports the prisoners have been released.
A headline in Beirut's moderate An Nahar newspaper 
read "South Lebanese Army collapses and the people 
await the return of the government," with color 
pictures showing returning villagers.
On Lebanese government television, a little girl, who 
had just returned to the evacuated town of Bint Jbeil, 
explained her feelings.
///  GIRL ACT - IN ARABIC - FADE UNDER  ///
The girl says she is from the liberated village of 
Bint Jbeil which was -- as she put it -- freed by the 
Islamic resistance.  And she says she salutes the 
resistance and it's leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah.
Sheikh Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah guerilla 
group, told reporters the fall of the Israeli security 
zone was the joint work of the Islamic resistance and 
ordinary Lebanese families.  He says local people who 
had worked with Israel are  not  welcome to stay.
///  NASRALLAH ACT -IN ARABIC - FADE UNDER  ///
Sheikh Nasrallah says the people he calls 
"collaborators" must leave with the Israelis.  He says 
some people say this is revenge, but he says it is the 
best guarantee for the future.
Scores of S-L-A officers and militiamen have crossed 
the border into Israel which has promised to give 
temporary refuge.  (Signed)
NEB/EY/JWH/KBK
23-May-2000 11:05 AM EDT (23-May-2000 1505 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.