PARLIAMENT BUILDING; GOVERNMENT LEADERS ARRIVE.




Initials PW/VS/JF/SIM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE LEBANESE PARLIAMENT MET IN A TWELVE-HOUR EMERGENCY SESSION YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) TO DEBATE THE ISRAEL SITUATION, FOLLOWING THE ATTACK ON BEIRUT AIRPORT LAST SATURDAY. AT THE END OF THE SESSION, IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT PARLIAMENT HAD ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO PROTECT LEBANON, WHATEVER THE COST.

PRIME MINISTER DR. ABDULLAH AL-YAFI TOLD PARLIAMENT THAT FURTHER FORMATIONS OF ISRAELI AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN OVER BEIRUT AIRPORT SINCE THE RAID. THEN, THE LEBANESE CABINET ISSUED AN ORDER TO LEBANON'S ARMED FORCES TO REPULSE ANY FUTURE ATTACK.

PARLIAMENT ALSO CALLED ON THE UNITED STATES TO CANCEL THE DEAL TO SELL FIFTY PHANTOM JET FIGHTER-BOMBERS TO ISRAEL AND URGED ALL OTHER COUNTRIES TO STOP SUPPLYING ISRAEL WITH ARMS, TO PREVENT IT FROM GOING AHEAD WITH "AGGRESSION AND THREATENING WORLD PEACE."
FINALLY, THE SESSION VOICED ITS STRONG DENUNCIATION OF WHAT WAS CALLED "A TREACHEROUS ACT OF PIRACY BY ISRAELI REGULAR FORCES" AGAINST BEIRUT AIRPORT.