The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) continued to encounter delays in establishing itself in south Lebanon. An Iranian unit that was supposed to take over the Akiya Bridge on the Litani River today was blocked by the Lebanese Christian militia which refuses to permit UN forces through its lines. It was hoped that the difficulties can be removed through Israeli channels.
The arrival of a Swedish unit from Sinai and a French paratroop battalion was held up because there was no white paint for their vehicles which are covered in camouflage colors. A special plane was sent to Beirut for paint. Despite the delays, a UN command post was established today at Ras A-Naqura on the Israeli-Lebanese border along the Mediterranean coast. It is expected to be expanded into UNIFIL headquarters which will control the various UN units in south Lebanon. An Israeli military group has established liaison with the UN command.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces are assisting Lebanese villagers with food supplies and medical attention. They are also facilitating the return of villagers who fled northward to escape the fighting. In one group of returning villagers, Israeli soldiers found three terrorists with Kalachnikof rifles concealed among their belongings. The three were detained.
CONTINGENTS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ARRIVING
(At the UN in New York, a UN spokesman said today that Senegal had informed Secretary General Kurt Waldheim it would participate in UNIFIL and arrangements were now under way for a battalion of Senegalese troops to join the new peacekeeping operation. The UN official told reporters that Iranian troops were now being deployed along the Litani River and that two aircraft carrying more than 200 French paratroopers and their equipment which had arrived in Beirut this morning are the first part of the French contingent to UNIFIL. The rest of the contingent is expected by the weekend, bringing the French contribution to some 600 men. The first group of the 700-man Norwegian contingent is expected in the area on Saturday, with the remainder arriving at Beirut in two groups next week.)
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