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11 news for February, July 1985

with the books
February 1, 1985friday
An assault against a mosque in Tripoli caused eight deaths and 66 injuries.

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February 4, 1985monday
Nothing could stop the dollar from rising. For the first time, the green bill was exchanged for over 15 Pounds on the Beirut stock market while the French Franc was quoted at 1.55 Pounds. The Lebanese authorities requested help from Saudi Arabia and asked Rafic Hariri to intercede with King Fahd to grant Lebanon 500 million dollars to boost the economy.

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Annual figures: the pound fell to about 16 to the dollar in 1985 against 6.5 in 1984, with retail inflation of about 70 per cent (Hanf, citing Abou Rjaily and Labaki); de Clerck and Malsagne put the 1985 devaluation at 150 per cent. Hanf notes that rumours of large PLO deposits briefly strengthened the pound in early 1985.

February 7, 1985thursday
Crewmembers of a Cyprus Airways Boeing were held hostages for 5 hours at the Beirut International Airport, by armed elements from Hay El Sellom. As a result, the company suspends its flights to Beirut.

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February 17, 1985sunday
The army made a triumphal entrance in Saida. The transition was smooth and no incident followed the Israeli departure.

\_this day in full the books also date it 9 January 1985 \_on this day

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Traboulsi dates Israel's exit from Sidon to 17 February 1985. Fisk describes Christians and Muslims briefly celebrating together when Lebanese troops arrived.

February 17, 1985sunday
President Gemayel made an unexpected visit to Saida where he was warmly acclaimed. The next day, Islamist women in chador demonstrated in Saida and burnt a Lebanese flag. They also destroyed bars and cafZs, and chanted slogans against the legal authorities.

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Prime Minister Rashid Karami travelled with Gemayel. Hanf records kidnappings of Christians and counter-kidnappings after several thousand Islamists from Beirut rallied in Sidon next day for an Islamic republic while the army stood aside.

February 23, 1985saturday
A security inspector hijacked a Beirut-Paris MEA flight. A passenger was killed and 13 others were injured. The hijacker had wage claims.

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A passenger died on the runway, flung there by the jets' blast, because the hijacker, Fisk writes, made the Larnaca plane take off with its doors open.

July 1, 1985monday
Following the hostages' crisis, Washington called for the boycott of the Beirut International Airport.

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July 9, 1985tuesday
An agreement between all Moslem leaders was concluded in Damascus to pacify West Beirut, while fights were raging in Tripoli.

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Syria sent ceasefire 'observers' to West Beirut in 1985, its first presence there since 1982: June according to Picard, August according to Hanf.

July 10, 1985wednesday
An Israeli raid on the camps of Nahr El Bared and Beddaoui caused 15 deaths and 50 wounded.

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July 30, 1985tuesday
Syria delivered 46 tanks to the Amal movement while surprise bombardments continued in Beirut and civilians were still being kidnapped on the crossing points.

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Hanf counts fifty tanks for Amal, thirty for the army's Sixth Brigade and none for the PSP; Picard mentions T-54 tanks.

July 31, 1985wednesday
President Sleiman Frangieh and Elie Hobeika were reconciled.

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