Beirut, 7 Nov. (AKI) - Leaders of the various Palestinian factions present in Lebanon were meeting in Sidon on Monday to consider the delicate question of disarming militias inside and outside refugee camps. Taking part are the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Alliance of Palestinian Forces (AFP), a coalition made up of resistance groups that in the past opposed the policies of the PLO. The meeting comes on the eve of the arrival in Beirut of Abbas Zaki, the Palestinian Authority's representative for refugees in Lebanon.
The United Nations special envoy to Lebanon, Terje Roed-Larsen said last week that the disbanding of militias was one of the next priorities in Lebanon, to complete compliance of UN Security Council Resolution 1559. The resolution calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, the holding of free elections, disbanding all militias, and extending government control over the whole country.
"We are encouraging the government of Lebanon to set up a mechanism with the different Palestinian groups to resolve the issue of disbanding them and disarming them," Roed-Larsen added.
"Dialogue with the Lebanese government must be free of pre-conditions," Sultan Abu al-Aynayn Fatah's representative in Lebanon said prior to Monday's talks. He was responding to declarations by the commander of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (FPLP-GC), Ahmad Jibril, who had said "there can be no brotherly dialogue with the authorities of Beirut while the Lebanese army continues to besiege our bases." | "It's like they think it's their country or something!" |
Jibril had criticised the security measures around FPLP-GC camps, ordered over recent weeks by prime minister Fuad Siniora to prevent militias carrying or displaying arms outside the camps. |