US embassy cable - 85BEIRUT4218

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIRUT 04218 
 
E.O. 12356:  DECL:  OADR 
TAGS:  PGOV, PREL, LE 
SUBJECT:  RENEWED CLASHES IN TRIPOLI 
 
1.(U)  BEIRUT PRESS REPORTS CONTINUING CLASHES BETWEEN 
SUNNI FUNDAMENTALIST "ISLAMIC MEETING" FORCES AND 
PRO-SYRIAN ARAB DEMOCRATIC (ADP) PARTY MILITIAMEN IN 
TRIPOLI.  ACCORDING TO THESE ACCOUNTS, DURING THE JULY 
15 FIGHTING ELEMENTS OF THE LAF SECOND BRIGADE (CHARGED 
WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRIPOLI SECURITY PLAN) FOUGHT 
SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THE SUNNI FUNDAMENTALISTS AGAINST THE 
ADP.  IF THESE REPORTS ARE CORRECT, THE LAF MAY HAVE 
COMPROMISED ITS ABILITY TO PLAY ITS ASSIGNED ROLE AS 
IMPARTIAL ARBITER IN THE CONTINUING DISPUTES. 
 
2.(U)  ACCORDING TO THESE ACCOUNTS, SYRIAN EFFORTS TO 
CONTAIN THIS MOST RECENT OUTBREAK ARE TAKING TWO FORMS. 
ADP AND TAWHID LEADERS HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN SUMMONED BY 
SYRIAN VP KHADDAM TO DAMASCUS FOR TALKS TO TAKE PLACE 
THE WEEK OF JULY 22.  SYRIAN MILITARY OBSERVERS ARE ALSO 
EXPECTED IN TRIPOLI ITSELF TO SUPERVISE THE CURRENT 
CEASE-FIRE. 
 
3.(C)  COMMENT.  THE SYRIANS HAVE CONSISTENTLY USED THE 
ADP TO EXERT PRESSURE ON THE SUNNI FUNDAMENTALISTS, MOST 
OF WHOM ARE ARAFAT SUPPORTERS, AND MANY OF WHOM ARE 
FORMER FATAH MEMBERS WHO JOINED TAWHID WHEN ARAFAT WAS 
FORCED OUT OF TRIPOLI.  THE SYRIANS ARE APPARENTLY 
CONTENT AT THIS POINT TO LET THE CONFLICT SIMMER WHILE 
WORKING TO AVOID AN OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE WHICH THEY 
COULD NOT CONTROL.  END COMMENT. 
 
BARTHOLOMEW