Lebanon Seizes Faction’s Weapons

BEIRUT — Lebanese security forces continued their crackdown Thursday on a Christian group accused of a deadly church bombing last month amid a news blackout ordered by the government.

Troops stormed a Lebanese Forces office in Breij, 25 miles north of Beirut in the mountains that once formed the heartland of the onetime militia’s war-time territory. The raid netted 300 U.S.-made M-16 assault rifles, 20 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 20 machine guns and three truckloads of ammunition, all removed from an LF office. A raid on a second office in Christian east Beirut uncovered a cache of rockets.

Lebanese army checkpoints have been erected in Christian areas since the Feb. 27 church bombing in the Christian suburb of Jounieh, in which 10 people died. More explosive devices have since been found in rubbish bins, schools and other buildings, including the British Embassy--all in Christian areas--spreading fear among the population. All were dismantled by army experts.