South Lebanese Army (SLA) leader General Antoine Lahad...

South Lebanese Army (SLA) leader General Antoine Lahad called on Lebanese President Emile Lahoud to issue a blanket amnesty for all SLA militiamen and whoever else the Beirut government might consider a collaborator with Israel. Under Lebanese law, collaborators with Israel face a possible death penalty. Lahad was sentenced to death in absentia in 1996 after being found guilty of treason by a Beirut military court. Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss rejected the demand saying that it was bizarre for the SLA to request amnesty while it was still carrying on acts of aggression. On May 26, 2000, Hoss urged the militiamen among the 7,000 Lebanese who entered Israel as refugees during the Israeli withdrawal to return home to face legal proceedings.