BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuter) - A U.S.-based human rights group
has urged Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri to work to end
what it said was the abduction of Lebanese citizens and
Palestinian refugees by Syrian security forces in Lebanon.
``Human Rights Watch/Middle East is writing to express our
deep concern about the abduction and interrogation of Lebanese
citizens and Palestinian refugees by Syrian security forces in
Lebanon,'' the group said in letter to Hariri.
It said its representatives learned during a recent visit to
Lebanon of two disappearances in July.
Hariri will meet President Clinton at the White House
Friday. A copy of the letter dated Oct. 11 was faxed to an
international news agency in Beirut Thursday.
Human Rights Watch, a Washington-based privately funded
group, said the abductions were followed by transfer to Syria
for imprisonment without charge or any form of due process.
The group urged Hariri to take measures to end the abuses,
including a public declaration ``that Syrian forces will no
longer be permitted to operate with impunity on Lebanese soil.''
Syria has some 35,000 troops stationed over two-thirds of
Lebanon, making it Beirut's main power broker.