US embassy cable - 89BEIRUT1229

S E C R E T BEIRUT 01229 
 
E.O. 12356:  DECL:  OADR 
TAGS:  MOPS, PGOV, LE 
SUBJECT:  EAST-WEST FIGHTING -- SITUATION AS OF 1200Z -- 
          MESSAGE FROM NABIH BERRI; SHELLING RESUMES IN 
          YARZE/HAZMIEH/PORT/JOUNIEH AREAS 
 
REF:  BEIRUT 1227 
 
1.  SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT. 
 
2.  AT 1100Z AMBASSADOR WAS CONTACTED BY REPRESENTATIVE 
OF AMAL LEADER NABIH BERRI, WHO SAID BERRI WANTED 
AMBASSADOR TO KNOWN THAT AMAL HAD NOT RPT NOT INITIATED 
THE SHELLING MORNING OF MARCH 14.  BERRI WAS VERY 
CONCERNED AT THE NUMBER OF INNOCENT CIVILIAN CASUALTIES 
(18 DEAD AND MORE THAN FIFTY WOUNDED) AND WARNED OF THE 
POSSIBILITY OF ESCALATING AND SPREADING VIOLENCE IF THE 
SITUATION WAS NOT BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. 
 
3.  AT THE SAME TIME CALL WAS UNDERWAY, HEAVY SHELLING OF 
YARZE/HAZMIEH AREA FROM THE WEST RESUMED, BREAKING THE 
CALM WHICH HAD PREVAILED SINCE 0600Z THIS MORNING.  IN 
RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR'S QUERY, HIS INTERLOCUTOR DENIED 
KNOWLEDGE OF WHO IN THE WEST WAS RESPONSIBLE, BUT SAID HE 
WOULD CHECK INTO THE MATTER. 
 
4.  CONTINUING HEAVY FIRE IMPACTING IN HAZMIEH, BEIRUT 
PORT AND IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE MOD IS 
CONTINUING AS OF TIME OF DRAFTING (1145Z), WITH REPORTED 
SHELLS NOW HITTING THE VICINITY OF JOUNIEH.  LAF IS 
RESPONDING WITH OUTGOING FIRE. 
 
5.  NO RPT NO ROUNDS HAVE IMPACTED CLOSE TO THE YARZE 
RESIDENCE WHERE AMBASSADOR IS PRESENT.  REPORTS FROM 
ACTING DATT, WHO IS PRESENT AT MOD, INDICATE TWO OMC 
FSN'S WERE SLIGHTLY WOUNDED.  ALL STAFF AT MOD ARE 
CURRENTLY IN SHELTERS.  SITUATION AROUND AUKAR COMPOUND 
IS QUIET. 
 
MCCARTHY