French facing bad memories in Lebanon

MARJAYOUN, Lebanon — France is poised to dispatch hundreds of troops today to support the international peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, confronting painful memories of the deadly 1983 bombing in Beirut and concerns about more violence in the next few months.

The French are contributing the second-largest contingent to the beefed-up U.N. force assigned to uphold the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah militants. France also will command the force until early next year, when Italy is to take over.

Some 900 French troops who have been staying at a temporary camp outside Beirut are to begin moving today to encampments south of the Litani River, where the Israeli army is pulling out. They will join hundreds of troops from Italy, Spain, India and Ghana — as well as other French forces already in the area.

France initially hesitated to commit its troops in large numbers to Lebanon and said it would send only 200 soldiers to reinforce its 200-strong contingent in the existing UNIFIL force.

But under heavy international pressure, French President Jacques Chirac did an about-face and said 2,000 French troops would serve in Lebanon. France also has 1,700 naval personnel helping to patrol the waters off Lebanon.

The French still have haunting memories of the Oct. 23, 1983, suicide-bomb attacks on barracks in Beirut that killed 58 French peacekeepers and 241 American servicemen and led to the withdrawal of the international peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

Many French troops said they feel welcomed in Lebanon, with all sides encouraging their presence. But they are well aware of the potential dangers they face.

"We're ready for any eventuality, but of course it could inflame again at any time," said Lt. Eric Lemee, a Foreign Legion officer. "If we have to raise our level of alert, we'll do it."

Other developments:

Hezbollah "victory" rally: Hezbollah's leader called Sunday for a massive rally in Beirut's bombed-out southern suburbs to mark the militant group's "victory" over Israel during the monthlong fighting this summer. Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said the rally, to be held Friday evening, would show Hezbollah's "absolute commitment to our right to recover our land and prisoners and defend our nation, its dignity, freedom, sovereignty and real and full independence in the face of [Israeli] occupation."

Israeli inquiry OK'd: The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday authorized an inquiry into the government's handling of the recent war in Lebanon, capping weeks of disagreement over the scope of the investigation. The inquiry headed by a retired judge will look at decisions by political and military leaders, but it will not have full judicial powers to dismiss officials, despite widespread public calls for a broader inquiry.