WORLD : Lebanon Arms Offer Reported
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BEIRUT — The United States and France are willing to provide weapons to Lebanese President Elias Hrawi, now preparing his troops to replace Syrian soldiers in Muslim West Beirut, official sources said today.
The sources in Hrawi’s government said both countries said they oppose any attack to break the hold of defiant Christian Gen. Michel Aoun on the Christian enclave and will provide arms only for defensive purposes.
The French and American positions were relayed to Hrawi’s Finance Minister Ali Khalil when he visited Paris and Washington, the sources said.
The two nations requested details of arms needed by Hrawi’s 15,000 mostly Muslim troops, and officers are drawing up a list.
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