Trapped, scared and begging to come home

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
July 16 2006

Young Australians trapped in the siege of Lebanon have made a desperate
plea for the Government to bring them home as the Hezbollah Islamist
guerilla group declared "open war" on Israel.

More than 50 teenage dancers and their families, among 2200 Australians
travelling in Lebanon, were last night holed up in a hotel in downtown
Beirut listening to an escalation in the Israeli bombardment of
the city.

The leaders of the Armenian Sydney Dance Company said they were afraid
and running out of money to pay for food.

"We need help to get out of this country. Please, before it gets
worse," said Maggie Kasparian, one of the parents leading the troupe.

Worried relatives in Sydney called on the Government to "pull their
fingers out" and bring them home.

A number of other Australians tried to drive to Syria to catch
flights to Bahrain, but they were being refused entry. They also
risked Israeli air attacks on the Beirut-Damascus highway.

Other countries have started evacuating citizens. In response to the
dramatic spike in violence yesterday, the US used marines to move
Americans to Cyprus.

At least nine civilians were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli
attacks yesterday, raising the death toll to 73 since the start of
the offensive.

An Israeli navy ship was set ablaze off the coast of Beirut and four
Israeli troops were missing after being struck by an unmanned drone
packed with explosives.

Three Sydney men holidaying in Lebanon face being conscripted into
the Lebanese army and forced to fight on the frontline if Lebanon
decides to defend itself against the Israeli attacks.

Ziad Adasi, 25, Anthony El Fanj, 22, and his friend Nabil Saray Eldin,
22, could be forced to perform six months’ compulsory military service
because they hold dual citizenship.

"The Government should do something about this," Ms Kasparian said.
"We are very tired – and we want to go home."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Department said yesterday: "The
Government is looking at possible options for evacuation if the
security situation allows.

"At this stage the best advice is to remain in secure locations
indoors, monitor the media and follow the instructions of local
authorities."

The Australian embassy in Beirut reopened yesterday. Families in
Australia who could not make contact with loved ones in Lebanon can
phone 1800 002 214.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd called on Foreign
Minister Alexander Downer to marshall every available bureaucrat to
help Australians caught up in the turmoil.

Prime Minister John Howard backed Israel in its "war" with Lebanon
and said it was clear Hezbollah started the conflict. "I do believe
Israel is justified in defending herself," Mr Howard said yesterday.

Fears the conflict could expand into a region-wide war grew when
Syria declared its support for Lebanon.

There is no end to the conflict in sight with the United Nations
Security Council failing to act on Beirut’s demand for an immediate
end to Israeli attacks on its territory.

WAR OF WORDS

"You wanted open war. We are going to open war."

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah (left) after his apartment
building in Beirut was destroyed by an Israeli air strike.

"The Syrian people are ready to extend full support to the Lebanese
people and their heroic resistance to remain steadfast and confront
the barbaric Israeli aggression and its crimes."

Communique from Syria’s ruling Baath party.

"I do believe Israel is justified in defending herself."

Prime Minister John Howard.

"I call on him to make sure that his department has all hands on deck
to provide consular support to these tens of thousands of Australians."

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd urges Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer to act to assist Australian citizens.

"No. The President is not going to make military decisions for
Israel." White House spokesman Tony Snow when asked whether US
President George Bush had agreed to a request from Lebanon to rein
in the Israelis.

"We are being asked to stop Hezbollah, but no one is putting the
necessary pressure on Israel to stop the problem."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress