Palestinians keen on Lebanon security

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 27 (UPI) -- Fatah President Farouk Kaddoumi stressed Wednesday that Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are keen on preserving the security of the host country.

Speaking after a meeting with Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, Kaddoumi said, "The Palestinian people are keen on safeguarding Lebanon's security and relations between them and the Lebanese."

He said the issue of Palestinian refugees is a political matter directly linked to a final settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Some 400,000 Palestinian refugees live in 12 camps throughout Lebanon, including Ein el-Hilweh, the biggest camp where criminals wanted by Lebanese authorities have been hiding.

Kaddoumi said he asked Lebanese authorities to ease restrictions around the camps and make the daily life of refugees better.