LEBANON: FUNERAL OF HEZBOLLAH GUERRILLA

Описание: (2 Mar 1999) Arabic/Nat

Lebanese Hezbollah guerillas have buried one of their own killed on Sunday night during a clash with Israeli troops in south Lebanon.

But the fighting which began on Sunday has died down and much of southern Lebanon has fallen quiet.

Tension peaked after a Hezbollah roadside bomb killed Brigadier General Erez Gerstein and three other Israelis, including a journalist, in south Lebanon on Sunday.

Israel immediately retaliated with airstrikes against the guerrillas.

Near the southern port of Tyre in Lebanon Hezbollah guerrillas staged a public funeral - a sign they do not fear renewed attacks from Israel.

Hussein Moghnyah was killed on Sunday night during a clash with Israeli troops in south Lebanon.

His funeral is taking place in the village of Teir Debbah.

Hezbollah supporters raise their hands, crying out against Israel.

A representative proclaimed the defence of Lebanese land would go on.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"The resistance is adamant to go on killing leaders although last year it only caught Merkava and broke into posts...and the enemy's leaders have no alternative as long as they are on our lands except to die by bombs and traps and self-destructed bodies. It is their destiny in Lebanon on the land of the South ...to die...to be killed."
SUPER CAPTION: Nabil Kaouk, Hezbollah Representative

The United States has called for calm from both sides.

But by Tuesday, it was clear the restraint sought by Washington had arrived.

U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright sent messages to Presidents Emile Lahoud of Lebanon and Hafez Assad of Syria, asking the Arab leaders to make sure violence is halted.

Both Israel and Hezbollah said they would attack only if provoked.

A truce committee, meanwhile, was to meet on Tuesday evening to find ways to further ease tension.

It brings together delegates from Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the United States and France.

The committee was established in April 1996 as part of a U-S brokered understanding that ended a 17-day Israeli bombing campaign against Lebanon which left 175 dead -
mostly Lebanese civilians.

During the campaign, guerrillas fired hundreds of rockets on northern Israeli towns.

Under the terms of the understanding, both Israel and Lebanese guerrillas are supposed to refrain from attacking civilians and from using civilian areas to launch attacks on military targets.

The committee last met in February.

About 1-thousand 500 Israeli troops aided by 2-thousand 500 local militiamen patrol the occupied enclave, which Israel set up in 1985 to protect its northern border.

Hezbollah fighters have led the campaign to oust the Israelis from Lebanese land.

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