1.
LV PEOPLE OUTSIDE HALL
0.03

2.
SV PRESIDENT HELOU, PREMIER KARAMI ENTER HALL
0.09

3.
CU CHANDELIER
0.12

4.
LV PREMIER & CABINET (3 SHOTS)
0.32

5.
SV MR JUMBLATT INTERIOR MINISTER & FRIENDS TALKING (2 SHOTS)
0.40

6.
LV PRESIDENT TALKING TO PRESS (2 SHOTS)
0.52

7.
SV CAMERAMAN
0.54

8.
SV PRESIDENT LEAVING
0.57

9.
SV PREMIER KARAMI TALKING TO PRESS
1.04

10.
SV PREMIER INTO CAR & AWAY
1.12



Initials KM/VS/JH/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER RASHID KARAMI HAS MADE A QUALIFIED PLEDGE THAT HIS NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT WOULD GIVE THE UTMOST AID TO THE PALESTINE COMMANDO CAUSE. HIS STATEMENT CAME ON THURSDAY (4 DEC) AFTER THE FIRST MEETING OF HIS NEW 16 MAN CABINET.

IN A POLICY STATEMENT DELIVERED THE DAY AFTER AN ISRAELI AIRBORNE ASSAULT ON GUERRILLA POSITIONS IN SOUTHEAST LEBANON, MR KARAMI SAID THAT AID TO THE COMMANDO CAUSE MUST BE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF LEBANESE SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY.

OBSERVERS IN BEIRUT SAID THAT THIS FORMULA, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN PRECISELY DEFINED IN PUBLIC SINCE PRESIDENT HELOU FIRST STATED IT SIX MONTHS AGO, STILL LEFT VAGUE THE LEBANESE COMMITMENT TO BACK COMMANDO ACTION AGAINST ISRAEL.

BUT THIS IMPRESSION WAS NECESSARY IF A COMPROMISE AGREEMENT WERE TO BE REACHED BETWEEN THE VARIOUS LEBANESE FACTIONS WHICH ARE DEEPLY SPLIT OVER THE COMMANDO ISSUE, THE OBSERVERS SAID.

IN OCTOBER GOVERNMENT AND COMMANDO FORCES CLASHED IN WIDESPREAD FIGHTING WHEN THE ARMY INTERVENED TO STOP THE GUERRILLAS ESTABLISHING PERMANENT BASES IN SOUTHERN LEBANON IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY TO AVOID INVITING HEAVY RETALIATION FROM ISRAEL.

AFTER THURSDAY'S MEETING MR KAMAL JUMBLATT, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR, WAS STOPPED ON THE STEPS OF THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING BY FRIENDS OF KIDNAPPED SUDANESE JOURNALIST MOHAMMED MAKKI. THEY ASKED MR JUMBLATT FOR HIS HELP IN LOCATING MR MAKKI WHO HAD FLED HIS OWN COUNTRY AFTER THE RECENT COUP.