South Lebanon villagers slam French troops, policy

MAROUN AL-RAS, Lebanon, March 2 (Reuters) UN peacekeeper patrols by French troops have irritated residents of this south Lebanon village who are suspicious of the Paris government and would like to see the back of its soldiers.

''You hear the sound of a tank and think Israel has come back,'' said Mariam Faris. Like other Maroun al-Ras residents, she fled the village when it became a battleground in the July-August war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Much of Maroun al-Ras is still in ruins from the war, ended by a UN Security Council resolution that brought thousands of new international peacekeepers to Lebanon. French troops patrol the village near the border with Israel.

But villagers say their patience is wearing thin with the troops.

Armoured patrols have terrified children, they say, and they are also suspicious of Paris because of its support for Hezbollah's political rivals in Lebanon.

''People are fed up with the French troops because of this point,'' deputy mayor Hussein Ali said, referring to French support for Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government in its political struggle with Hezbollah and its allies.

''The French stance isn't right, it's like the American position,'' Ali said.

A UNIFIL spokesman said the force was using light vehicles on patrol where possible.

''We do everything we can to minimise disruption,'' he said.

''UNIFIL has traditionally enjoyed extremely close relations with the community. We are confident that this will continue.'' Maroun al-Ras, like most of south Lebanon, stands firmly behind Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah in the group's conflict with Israel and its political fight at home. Hezbollah signs line the roadsides and its flag flies at the border.

PROTECTING ISRAEL? ''Most of the people think that they (peacekeepers) are here to protect the Israelis, not us,'' Zeinab Faris, a shopkeeper in the hilltop village, said.

Lebanese soldiers man a nearby army position which commands a sweeping view into northern Israel. Under the Security Council resolution, the army deployed south to areas previously controlled mainly by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah's weapons have been out of sight since the war, as they were before the conflict, which was triggered when the group launched a raid into Israel and captured two soldiers.

Hezbollah leaders have underlined the need for good ties with UNIFIL and praised the international force for dealing positively with complaints.

But Hezbollah has also repeatedly warned against any UNIFIL attempts at spying -- a remark which some analysts say has added to local suspicions.

Timur Goksel, a former UNIFIL spokesman, said the warnings were creating a dangerous false impression. ''If Hezbollah feels they don't want UNIFIL or a certain country, it would be very easy to provoke the people into action,'' he said.

Villagers in Maroun al-Ras said they had rejected medical assistance from the French military last month because of bad feeling towards the troops. The medics were asked to leave.

But elsewhere in the south, locals have welcomed medical care and other free help from UNIFIL, including language and yoga classes. A Belgian military field hospital in Tibnine has treated some 2,300 civilians since October.

Ali Kashakish, who had been treated for a scorpion bite, praised the troops: ''If you have any problem, they help.'' REUTERS SP ND1638