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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Beirut
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1992-09-03
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Beirut, or Beyrouth Capital and port of
Lebanon, devastated by civil war in the 1970s
and 1980s and occupied by armies of
neighbouring countries; population (1990)
703,000. The city is divided into a Christian
eastern and a Muslim western sector by the
Green Line. history Beirut dates back to at
least 1400 BC. Until the civil war 1975-76,
Beirut was an international financial and
educational centre, with four universities
(Lebanese, Arab, French, and US); it was also
a centre of espionage. It was besieged and
virtually destroyed by the Israeli army
July-Sept 1982 to enforce the withdrawal of
the forces of the Palestinian Liberation
Organization. After the ceasefire, 500
Palestinians were massacred in the
Sabra-Chatila camps 16-18 Sept, 1982, by
dissident Phalangist and Maronite troops,
with alleged Israeli complicity. Civil
disturbances continued, characterized by
sporadic street fighting and hostage taking.
In 1987 Syrian troops were sent in.