Lebanese Army, Christians Clash in Sidon; Four Die

The Lebanese Army battled today in the southern city of Sidon against Christian militiamen who joined the rebellion against President Amin Gemayel’s Syrian-oriented leadership. Police said four people were killed and 38 wounded.

The clash was the first in the area since Christian militia garrisons near the predominantly Muslim city pledged allegiance to the week-old mutiny within Gemayel’s Christian Falange Party. It was also the first serious confrontation in Sidon since the Israeli army withdrew from the area Feb. 16.

Hostilities in Sidon first broke out shortly after noon Monday, pitting Shia and Sunni Muslim militiamen against Christians from the Falange militia, known as the Lebanese Forces, posted in barracks in the villages of Hlaylie, Qanaya and Qiyaa.

Tanks, Troops Sent

Police said two hours later, the Sidon army garrison sent four tanks and two truckloads of troops to break up the fighting. A cease-fire was called at 8:30 p.m.

But at first light today, when the 98th Army battalion sent the first armored patrol to the area, Christian militiamen were still entrenched in their positions despite the withdrawal agreement, police said.

Reporters saw several Muslim families fleeing the Christian towns of Abra, Hlaylie and Qiyaa shortly before midday. About 100 people came to Sidon on foot and others were seen in the fields around the three suburbs.

State radio said Christian militiamen had given between 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims living in the three towns a one-hour deadline for leaving.

Breaking In, Looting

Sidon’s Parliament member Nazih Bizri charged that Christian militiamen broke into and looted Muslim houses in the three areas overnight. The state radio said many of the raiders were masked or hooded.

The embattled President Gemayel talked to President Hafez Assad of Syria by telephone and reaffirmed his commitment to safeguard Lebanon’s unity and territorial integrity, Syria’s state radio reported today.

Gemayel also stressed that he would continue trying to bring about a Muslim-Christian reconciliation to end Lebanon’s almost 10-year civil war, the radio added.

It said Assad renewed his pledge of support for Gemayel against the mutiny, saying Syria “will forcefully oppose any moves to partition Lebanon.”

Gemayel had been scheduled to head an emergency Cabinet session at the presidential palace in suburban Baabda today. But palace sources said the meeting was canceled because most Muslim ministers refused to risk the trip through areas under Christian militia control.

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