HC Deb 19 December 1983 vol 51 cc40-1W
Mr. Ernie Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Official Report the details and contents of his most recent telephone conversation with Mr. Walid Jumblatt, the Druze leader in Lebanon.

Mr. Heseltine

I received a report on 14 December that four shells, apparently fired from a Druze controlled area, had fallen close to the headquarters of the British contingent in Beirut. Since this was a matter of the greatest concern to the Government, I telephoned Mr. Jumblatt and asked him to do all he could to stop such shelling. Mr. Jumblatt undertook to do this. He made the point that the situation in Beirut was dangerous and confused, but agreed that there was no justification for shelling the British contingent. The shelling has not recurred.