Palestinian Abu al-Einin waiting for political solutions

The secretary of the Fatah movement in Lebanon, Sultan Abu al-Einin, said that nothing is new in the case of his being convicted to death in absentia taken against him by the Lebanese courts, adding that he is "waiting for political treatment to take its due course."

Abu al-Einin asserted to the Lebanese daily al-Safir today that the chairman of the political department at the PLO, Farouk al-Qaddoumi, will raise this case with the Lebanese government during the visit he will start to Beirut on Friday. Abu al-Einin added that contacts will end in positive results for the interests of the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples.

Al-Einin stated that he will meet with Qaddoumi during his stay in Lebanon, after al-Qaddoumi is to have completed his talks with the sides concerned and after, "This matter will be settled ultimately."

In this respect the Lebanese daily al-Nahar said today that the visit of Qaddoumi to Beirut was initially postponed and no final date was set for it and that it will not be held directly after Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss returns from Saudi Arabia to Beirut.

While it was rumored that Abu al-Einin is preparing to ask for the court of appeal over the death sentence against him by the military court, a Lebanese judicial source interrupted "such a possibility" is not possible in the law unless Abu al-Einin surrenders to the court.

The source, which is a member of a court which takes definite and final sentences, said the criminal sentence in absentia which is released by the ordinary or military court cannot be opposed or appealed. He stated that such a sentence is enforced unless the convicted in absentia surrenders so as to be tried again.