Haddad Accuses UN of Lying About Number of Terrorists in the Unifil Sector in South Lebanon

Maj. Saad Haddad, commander of the Christian militia, accused the United Nations of lying about the number of terrorists in its sector of southern Lebanon. Haddad called a press conference in the Israeli border town of Metullah today to dispute a statement by Timor Goksill, a spokesman for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), that only about 40 unarmed Palestinians had entered the UNIFIL-held region.

Goksill said they were there to oversee a local cease-fire between rival Palestinian and Lebanese groups. But Haddad insisted that the figure of “only 40” was a lie and said the explanation that they came to keep the peace between Palestinians and other Moslems was ridiculous. The leader of the Israel-backed militia accused UNIFIL of allowing terrorists into the area controlled by Senegalese and Fijian troops.

SAYS 900 TERRORISTS ARE IN THE REGION

He alleged that the Senegalese had been “paid off” by El Fatah and that other UNIFIL soldiers “don’t have the authority” to keep terrorists out of their sectors. According to Haddad, there are about 900 terrorists in the region, including Palestinians, Red Brigade members, Pakistanis and Libyans. He also claimed the Palestine Liberation Organization now has long range ground-to-ground missiles capable of hitting Haifa.

Haddad seemed to be echoing recent claims by Israeli officials of a PLO military build-up in south Lebanon. The Israelis have accused the Palestinians of at least 60 violations of the cease-fire that went into effect on the Lebanese border last July.

Haddad said: “I demand that the UN tell the truth about what is happening in south Lebanon. The UN should use its full power to get the terrorists out of the area and not allow any weapons inside their area. If they cannot do the job they should let us get the terrorists out.”