6,000 Lebanese Troops Assigned to Maintain Peace in Beirut

The daily Al Hayat on Wednesday said a 6,000-strong Lebanese army force was recently assigned to maintain peace and prevent any disorder.
Al Hayat said the Lebanese army command, which continues to coordinate with Lebanon's Internal Security Forces, has lately set up a "new security plan for Beirut."

It said Beirut, under the plan, was divided into "four security zones in which 6,000 soldiers were assigned to keep peace and prevent any security disturbance."

The army command pledged in a directive issued Tuesday that "what has happened will not recur," a reference to the spate of violence that has swept Lebanon since last Tuesday in which at least seven people were killed and more than 250 wounded.

"Let it be known that what has happened will not recur. You are required to enforce laws and instructions under the supervision of your superiors," Gen. Michel Suleiman said in the directive, addressed to army troops.

Beirut, 31 Jan 07, 10:28