HELICOPTER LYING ON RIVER BANK; GUERRILLAS ROUND HELICOPTER; DETAIL SHOTS OF HELICOPTERS.




Initials GL/VS/AS/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A LEBANESE ARMY HELICOPTER, BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION OVER THE NAHR EL-BARED PALESTINIAN REFUGEE CAMP NEAR TRIPOLI, IN NORTHERN LEBANON, WAS BROUGHT DOWN BY PALESTINIAN GUERRILLAS ON SUNDAY (2 NOV), ONLY HOURS BEFORE THE CEASEFIRE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES CAME INTO EFFECT.

THE HELICOPTER CRASH-LANDED ON THE EDGE OF A RIVER, AND A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POPULAR FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE CLAIMED IT HAD BEEN BROUGHT DOWN BY GUERRILLA GUNFIRE. HE SAID THE PILOT ESCAPED BUT FOUR OTHER MILITARY PERSONNEL ABOARD WERE CAPTURED.

HE SAID THE FOUR SOLDIERS AND THREE OTHERS CAPTURED LAST WEEK WHEN TROOPS TRIED TO ENTER THE HEAVILY-DEFENDED CAMP WOULD ONLY BE RELEASED IN AN EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.

A LEBANESE MILITARY SPOTTER PLANE WAS ALSO SHOT DOWN ON SUNDAY AS IT WAS RETURNING TO ITS BASE AT QULIEAT, NEAR TRIPOLI. THE PILOT ESCAPED BUT FOUR OTHER OCCUPANTS WERE CAPTURED. APART FROM THESE TWO INCIDENTS, THE LAST DAY BEFORE THE MIDNIGHT CEASEFIRE SAW LITTLE MILITARY ACTIVITY, AND WAS THE QUIETEST SINCE THE CONFLICT BROKE OUT A FORTNIGHT EARLIER.