RESIDENTS MEET TO CELEBRATE THE REOPENING OF A ROAD, 1997-12-23 (photo)

FOR RELEASE WITH STORY BC-LEBANON-TOWN - Residents of the pro-Israeli militia enclave of Jezzine (L) and the village of Kfar Falous (R) meet on a mountain road to celebrate the Lebanese army's reopening of the Kfar Falous crossing. The crossing was closed in 1985 after Israeli forces occupied a self-declared security zone in south Lebanon, forcing Jezzine residents to take a circuitous route to parts of the country controlled by the Beirut government. Jezzine residents, who frequently witness clashes between pro-Iranian Hizbollah guerrillas and Israeli forces and their local militia allies, hope the re-opening of the crossing was a first step to end 12 years of isolation and almosty daily violence. Picture taken December 19. LEBANON