Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990 TAG: 9003092438
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/2 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BEIRUT, LEBANON LENGTH: Short
In an unusually conciliatory statement, Aoun said there will be no more clashes among Christians or between Christians and Moslems. He also dropped his rejection of an Arab League plan, which was intended to end 15 years of civil war.
Aoun described as "self destructive" the clashes between his troops and Samir Geagea's Lebanese Forces militia, which have killed more than 750 people since they broke out Jan. 31. Aoun called on Geagea to declare his "readiness for dialogue so we can meet."
"Once two people manage to meet, they can invite others," Aoun said in an invitation to non-Christian leaders to join in discussions for a settlement to the civil war. His statement appeared in the daily An-Nahar.
The Arab League plan, which shifts some political power to Lebanon's Moslem majority, was worked out by Lebanese legislators in the Saudi Arabian town of Taif in October.
He originally rejected the accord because it did not include a fixed timetable for the withdrawal of Syria's 40,000 troops, in Lebanon under a 1976 Arab League peacekeeping mandate.
Aoun's 19,000 army troops and Samir Geagea's 6,000-member Lebanese Forces militia fought each other to a standstill in a power struggle for the 310-square mile Christian enclave before accepting a cease-fire on Saturday.
by CNB