Syrian Troops Take Up Duties in West Beirut

BEIRUT — Syrian soldiers manned checkpoints in the streets of Muslim West Beirut on Friday as a general strike to protest Lebanon’s civil war and economic crisis ended with no sign of an end to the political deadlock.

Nearly 1,000 Lebanese troops and policemen, backed by Syrian observers, began patrolling West Beirut a week ago as part of a plan backed by Damascus to end militia violence.

Witnesses confirmed that Syrian troops were deployed at checkpoints Friday, armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.

Official sources said that 150 Syrian soldiers had arrived in the capital and that the Syrians were “very serious about enforcing peace in the country at this time.”

Support for Strike

The 24-hour general strike drew mass support from Christians and Muslims, and even contending sectarian militias gave it formal backing.

But President Amin Gemayel’s so-called national unity Cabinet has not met for almost a year and remains paralyzed by disputes over political reforms and Syria’s role in Lebanon.

On the eve of the strike, the Christian Lebanese Forces militia said the Cabinet is to blame for the crisis, which has pushed the national currency to a record low and sent prices soaring. The militia challenged ministers to meet or resign.

Sunni Muslim Premier Rashid Karami already has offered to step down, but only if Gemayel, a Christian, does likewise. “The president and the government share responsibility,” he said Thursday.

Expiration of Term

Gemayel, 44, has vowed to stay in office until his six-year term expires in September, 1988.

Education Minister and former Premier Salim Hoss, a Sunni, marked the strike with a plea for Lebanese leaders to “put a final end to internal fighting.”

A week ago, Syria moved to quell militia anarchy in West Beirut, sending armed security men to help Lebanese troops and police crack down on gunmen.

In recent weeks, Syrian troops have also acted in parts of northern and eastern Lebanon to curb battles between rival militias.

Village Deployment

A joint force of 175 Syrian and Lebanese soldiers deployed in Mashgharah village in the Bekaa Valley last month to halt clashes between the leftist Syrian Nationalist Social Party and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah (Party of God), a Shia Muslim organization.