Lebanon Finally Acts In 1983 Bombing

Thu., March 27, 1997

Compiled From Wire Services

Fourteen years after suicide bombings killed 299 soldiers at U.S. and French military bases, Lebanese authorities took their first legal action - an investigation of two Shiite Muslim activists.

The move appeared aimed at assuaging U.S. anger that no suspects have been identified or arrests made since the attacks.

Riad Talih, a military magistrate, said Tuesday he had ordered police to investigate Hassan Ezzedine and Ali Atwi, believed to have been senior security officials of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in the 1980s.

Both men are at large, and Talih’s order did not connect them to Hezbollah, apparently to avoid a confrontation with the group. Hezbollah is leading a guerrilla war to end Israeli occupation of a border enclave in southern Lebanon.

On Wednesday, Lebanon’s Justice Ministry denied any action had been taken in the case, the state-run National News Agency said.

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Lebanon Finally Acts In 1983 Bombing

Jesse Tinsley

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