The World - News from June 27, 1985

Finnish U.N. troops staged a mock attack on 11 members of the Israeli-backed South Lebanon Army militia three weeks ago to help them defect to the Shia Amal movement, U.N. sources said in Tel Aviv. The incident touched off an international furor after the militia took 21 Finnish peacekeeping soldiers hostage, demanding that the 11 defectors be returned. The Finns were freed eight days later, and the militia said it was convinced that the 11 men--all Shias--had defected. The sources said the purpose of the mock attack was to prevent militia retribution against the defectors’ families.