Lebanon Stepchildren of a Nightmare

U.N. Forces Are Drawn into the Violent World of The Shi'ites

For years French soldiers of the United Nations peacekeeping force and the moderate Shi'ite Amal militia had been friendly. Last week the peace was shattered by the thunder of rocket-propelled grenades and the crack of automatic weapons resounding through the dusty, Amal-controlled village of Marrakeh. Reason: as French guards at a U.N. security checkpoint attempted to disarm a local Amal commander, his bodyguard pulled his own gun. The French responded with a fusillade that killed both Shi'ites. Before long, 100 Amal fighters roared into Marrakeh, their guns blazing away at French positions. By the time Amal Leader Nabih Berri arranged a...

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