1.
GV EXT Arab League H.Q. in Cairo
0.05

2.
SV INT Sec-Gen. Riad arriving for meeting
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3.
SV Lebanese Ambassador Mr. Sabrah arriving for meeting
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4.
SV INT Delegates seated
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5.
SV Riad seated at head of table
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6.
SV Mr. Radwan of Saudi Arabia
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SV ZOOM INTO CU Riad listening
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8.
GV Meeting in progress with delegates listening (2 shots)
0.48

9.
GV Riad speaking with newsmen at news conference
1.07



Initials BB/1855 NPJ/JB/BB/1910



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A meeting of the Arab League took place in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Tuesday (27 January) to discuss means of providing Lebanon with aid and compensation to offset the losses incurred during the ten month old civil war.

The meeting took place at the league's headquarters under the chairmanship of the League's Secretary General, Mr. Mahmoud Riad. In a statement after the meeting, Mr. Riad said that the representatives of the 20 member-states had welcomed the latest ceasefire in Lebanon, and had appealed to their government to provide Lebanon with immediate relief aid.

He said their appeal asked their governments to immediately supply urgent medical and food supplies, as well as equipment for the temporary accommodation of victims. Mr. Riad said that the aid would be handed over to a special committee comprising representatives of Lebanon and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).

In an official comment on the Syrian-negotiated ceasefire agreement Lebanon, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Mr. Ismail Fahmi, has played down the role of Syria in securing last Thursday's ceasefire.

Observers in Cairo believe that difference between Egypt and Syria are the main factor holding up an early Arab summit on the Lebanon which has been proposed by the Arab League. The success of such a summit meeting would be conditional o Syria's attendance, which is highly unlikely in view of its deteriorating relations with Egypt.