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CU INTERIOR: Palestine Liberation Organisation spokesman talking to reporter in Beirut, Lebanon. (English speech)
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Reuters reports from Beirut that one Western diplomat ha cautioned against over-optimism saying. "A few rounds of well-aimed mortar shells fired by some hotheads and the whole thing will blow up again." If the cease fire is confirmed, the focus will shift back to secret negotiations aimed at implementing a peace plan worked out by Lebanese, Palestinian and Syrian leaders last July.




Initials RH/1530



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: As an uneasy calm prevails in Southern Lebanon, with both sides observing Israel's unilaterally declared cease fire, there's been a tough warning from the PLO against any further action by Israeli-backed Rightists. Speaking in Beirut, on Tuesday (27 September), the day after the cease fire started, a spokesman for the Palestinian Liberation Organisation said the PLO would 'hit with a hand of iron' any Rightist action. And the spokesman, who declined to be named, warned that guerrillas aren't pulling out from the area.....and they have orders to return any fire they come under.

SYNOPSIS: Some news agencies and broadcasting systems have put broadcasting systems have put out reports originating from Israel and from opponents that the Palestinian forces are withdrawing from their positions in South Lebanon. We say these reports are untrue, and we have to clarify some points. First: we haven't started military operations, we haven't started the military operations in South Lebanon, we were defending ourselves, and if the other party ceased firing, we will cease fire and we will reserve the right, and it is our right, to answer the fire when we are attacked or we are fired on by the other party. Second: we insist on the complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Lebanese territories. We also insist on the withdrawal of every single Israeli soldier from any Lebanese position. And orders were given to the Palestinian revolutions forces to answer back immediately on any firing on they are subjected to by the enemy, and any movement by the enemy trying to advance to any of our positions that are within the Cairo Agreement. Third: we have been co-operating with the contacts that was going on with the Lebanese official authorities for the implementation of the Cairo Agreement which pointed to the implementation of the first stage of the Shtoura agreement. And the Palestinian Revolution in its positions that it's at present in is defending itself and is defending its rights and is defending its existence to places and in places given to it by the Cairo agreement of 1969. And we would like to confirm again that the Palestinian Revolution will hit with a hand of iron any more manoeuvre or try to try to get it out of the positions that it gave its right in 1969 Cairo Agreement.