RP sees easy win in SEABA opener

BEIRUT (AFP) - US air force planes have started delivering military equipment and ammunition to the Lebanese army which is locked in fighting with Islamist extremists, a Western diplomatic source told AFP.

"Eight US air force cargo planes have started arriving in Lebanon to deliver military equipment and ammunition to the Lebanese army," said the source, who did not wish to be identified.

"This shipment has previously been ordered by the Lebanese army, but it has now been accelerated" because of the current urgent needs of the troops, the source said, declining to elaborate further.

The Lebanese army has been fighting guerrillas of the Fatah Al-Islam movement holed up in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared in northern Lebanon, with at least 78 people killed since Sunday.

The leading An Nahar newspaper said that a first US plane had arrived late Thursday from Kuwait, with two more expected on Friday from Egypt.

The remainder will be coming from other Arab states where the US maintains weapons depots, it said.

The United States provided 40 million dollars in military aid to Lebanon last year and already this year has supplied hardware worth five million dollars.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Tuesday that Washington was considering a request by the Lebanese government for additional military assistance.

The administration of President George W. Bush has drawn up a supplementary budget of some 280 million dollars which is currently being considered by the US Congress.