Lebanese Students Protest American Support for Israeli Air Strikes
17 February 2000

An estimated 2,000 students held a demonstration outside the American embassy in Beirut to protest American support for Israeli air strikes that destroyed three power stations and wounded at least 15 civilians. Although Lebanese officials originally approved the demonstration permit, security forces fired tear gas and water cannons after the students, chanting "Death to America" began throwing rocks and tomatoes at the embassy. Two students were injured.

Security Forces Preempt Panel Discussion of Lebanese Detainees in Syria
18 February 2000

The World Lebanese Organization (WLO) said today that Lebanese security forces prevented a panel discussion at La Sagesse University on the fate of Lebanese detainees illegally held in Syrian prisons last week by threatening the two students who organized the forum, Nassim Abu Samra and Widad Abdelnour, as well as a clergyman affiliated with the university, Father Selim. When hundreds of student protesters organized a demonstration, security forces were deployed in the area to prevent the arrival of demonstrators from other areas. No injuries were reported.

Walid Jumblatt

Jumblatt: Upcoming Elections Are Rigged
26 February 2000

Beirut's Daily Star reported allegations by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt that Lebanon's upcoming elections will be rigged to favor pro-government candidates. "I will be subject to pressures from inside and outside Lebanon to include people that I do not want in my coalition," said Jumblatt. "For example, Syrian President Hafez Assad personally demanded that I include (Chouf MP) Zaher Khatib on my list in the 1992 and 1996 elections."

Witness Says He Was Tortured by Lebanese Investigators
2 March 2000

According to today's issue of Beirut's Daily Star, a major witness in the murder trial of two officers in Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement accused Lebanese security forces of torturing him to extract testimony implicating the suspects. Hussein Saadi said that he falsely incriminated Brigadier Taha Mohammed Abdel-Qader and Ali Nimr Farhoud in his Feb. 16 testimony before a Lebanese military tribunal "after being tortured by investigators."

Former LF Members Sentenced for Attacks on Syrian Army
3 March 2000

A Lebanese military court sentenced three former members of the Lebanese Forces (LF) militia who were convicted of carrying out hand grenade attacks against Syrian Army checkpoints over three years ago. Dany Khalil Habib was sentenced to five years in prison with hard labor, while David Khalil Habib and Antoine George Khoury were given three-year prison sentences.

Berri Meets with Syrian Military, Intelligence Chiefs
5 March 2000

Voice of Lebanon radio reported today that Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri held meetings over the last two days with Maj. Gen. Ghazi Kanaan, the director Syrian intelligence in Lebanon, Gen. Ibrahim Safi, the commander of Syrian military forces in Lebanon, and Bashar Assad to discuss "the latest developments in southern Lebanon."

Hezbollah Fires Katyushas into Northern Israel
15 March 2000

In retaliation for SLA attacks that killed a Lebanese army soldier and a civilian on March 13, Hezbollah fired a barrage of Katyusha rockets into northern Israel today. Israeli jet fighters and naval vessels responded by striking at targets north of the security zone.