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DATE=10/08/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=LEBANON / VIOLENCE (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-267629

BYLINE=EDWARD YERANIAN

DATELINE=BEIRUT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: As Israel continued to bring troop reinforcements to the Lebanese border Sunday,Palestinian refugees waving flags and shouting "Allahu Akbar" threw stones over the border fence. Meanwhile, international attention is focused on the three Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah Saturday, as Edward Yeranian reports from Beirut.

TEXT: In an interview with Hezbollah's official television station, one of the leaders of the radical Islamic movement, Sheikh Nasrallah, refused to release details about the health of the three Israeli captives, calling this free information.

He added, however, that the soldiers were in what he called a "far off" place where Israel would be unable to rescue them.

Hezbollah is demanding that Israel release several dozen Lebanese prisoners being held in Israeli jails in exchange for the Israeli soldiers.

Throughout the day Sunday, Hezbollah's T-V station showed pictures of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, under the caption "let's not forget our prisoners."

Beirut's left-wing As Safir newspaper reported that a Western capital had opened negotiations over the release of the three Israelis and a French news agency reported that the International Red Cross was mediating.

Long lines of cars paraded through the streets of Beirut Saturday night, with young men honking and waving Hezbollah flags, to express their agreement with Hezbollah's action.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported late Saturday that Israel had threatened to take military action against Beirut if the Israeli captives were not released soon.

Hezbollah's Sheikh Nasrallah discounted the alleged Israeli threats, saying "we've been threatened before, and we are not afraid."

Nasrallah warned Israel against taking any military action.

/// NASRALLAH IN ARABIC, FADE... ///

He says that "if there are any Israeli attacks against Lebanon, small or large, we will react

strongly and firmly and we are not so weak as to take this lying down."

On Sunday afternoon, Israeli planes broke the sound barrier over Beirut in what appeared to be a warning to the Lebanese government. (Signed)

NEB/EY/ALW/PFH