DATE=5/28/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LEBANON/SHOOTING (L)
NUMBER=2-262904
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=BEIRUT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Israeli patrols, for the second day, have shot
at demonstrators who attempted to cross the border
from southern Lebanon, which Israel abandoned last
week. Middle East Correspondent Scott Bobb reports
local authorities are trying to control the crowds
until the Lebanese military can deploy after U-N
monitors finish demarcating the border.
TEXT: /// ACT: SOUND OF STONE-THROWING ///
Lebanese authorities are beginning to worry that the
stone-throwing and attempts to breach the border fence
might lead to an incident that would aggravate
tensions that already are high in the region.
Officials of the Hezbollah resistance movement
intervened to stop one incident near Kfar Kila. They
reinforced a gate that was briefly opened by a few
individuals who were among the thousands of people who
have been passing daily to celebrate the end of
Israel's 22-year occupation of south Lebanon.
Hezbollah forces have occupied many of the posts
vacated by the Israeli forces and their allies of the
South Lebanon militia. But Hezbollah says security in
the region should be maintained by the Lebanese Army.
For many, the first visit to this land after more than
two-decades is highly emotional.
/// ACT: MAN YELLING IN ARABIC ///
A man in his forties expresses to no one in particular
his frustration over the Israeli occupation and its
effect on his country.
Although some Lebanese police have been deployed in
the major towns and cities of south Lebanon, the
military is rarely seen. The Lebanese government says
its military will only take control of the region
after the U-N verifies Israeli forces have withdrawn
completely, which could take several days.
Many leaders of the South Lebanon militia lived in the
nearby provincial capital of Marjaoun, where the
population is predominantly Christian. More than one-
half of the families there fled to Israel out of fear
of reprisals.
Local residents say they were very worried for the
first few days because people with guns were looting
the houses and cars of those who had fled. But now
they say things appear to be settling down.
Archbishop Elias Kfouri, the Greek Orthodox prelate
for south Lebanon, says the occupation was a terrible
period for his people, but he expresses optimism about
the future.
/// KFOURI ACT ///
We came back to normal today, almost to normal.
I say almost, because there are still a few
little things to be organized.
/// END ACT ///
One of the biggest problems has been traffic.
Thousands of people from the north are jamming the
roads and streets, creating bottlenecks that sometimes
last hours. The Lebanese authorities say this is to
be expected and have done little to discourage it.
Next week, they say, they will take measures
to return things to normal. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/ALW/RAE
28-May-2000 14:03 PM EDT (28-May-2000 1803 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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