1.
SV & CU Defectors from regular Lebanese army sitting in garden in Metulla, Northern Israel. (2 SHOTS)
0.26

2.
SV Defectors with guns walking out of building.
0.35

3.
CU Interview with spokesman for "Free Lebanon" organisation.
1.42


RIZAK: "They are coming here to co-operate with the 'Free Lebanese Army' with Major Haddad to liberate the country (INDISTINCT). And it's their aim from the beginning, and for this reason they told that 'we are going and that we are in the army'. And they said that our army in Lebanon now is completely under the control of the Syrians, and the foreigners -- they means by that the Palestinian and other terrorists in Lebanon. And they have full doubts that the government there isn't at all in the hands of the Syrians and the foreigners, for that we come to Free Lebanon to join the ranks of Major Haddad and to be in his army with the intention to liberate our country. ... And they told also that hundreds, and perhaps half of the army will come here and do the same thing, but they look for sure roads and for sure ways to come."





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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: At least 12 Lebanese regular army soldiers have defected to Major Saad Haddad's Christian Militia de-facto forces in the past 10 days. At a news conference in Metulla on Tuesday (12 August), four of the defectors said there are more Lebanese soldiers waiting to join them, but it was difficult for many of them to get past UNIFIL and Palestinian road blocks.

SYNOPSIS: These men made it through the Palestinian lines and peace keeping forces to the south of the country. Less than three week sago (20 July), regular Lebanese troops moved into the unstable south, to help UNIFIL troops separate Palestinian guerrillas and Major Haddad's de-factor troops, who have declared their occupied territory "Free Lebanon". But the defectors, Yousef Naami, Michel Saloom, Nadim Halou and Naud Mahlkouf claim the Lebanese and the Beirut administration is controlled by Palestinians and occupying Syrian peacekeeping troops. A spokesman said they defected to liberate Lebanon.