In Lebanon, attempts to ease the crisis brought about by conflict in Beirut and in the south of the country continue. In Beirut the United States Ambassador Mr. Richard Parker has met President Sarkis (10 August), and shooting broke out as 150 Syrian troops of the Arab peacekeeping force withdrew from their positions surrounded by Christian militias. The Syrian withdrawal is part of an effort to defuse tension in the city. Meanwhile, at a news conference in Beirut on tuesday (8 August) a leader of a rightist militia group, Etienne Sacre, known as 'Abu Arz', accused the Syrians of using mass killings to try to suppress the Lebanese people.

SYNOPSIS: Abu Arz was closely guarded by members of his militia as he appealed to the conscience of the Arab world.