Anani became a fighter in a Lebanese militia and "at the age of 14"

Although several Lebanese militias claimed to be secular, most were little more than vehicles for sectarian interests.

Its members are said to include the Party of God, a radical Lebanese militia.

The officials said the two sides were still sharply divided on a formula for a future relationship between the army and the Lebanese Forces militia.

In addition, the "Lebanese Forces" militia can call up 12,000 troops when fully mobilized.

Sharon had used this to instigate the entrance of the Lebanese militias into the camps.

As the civil war escalated, Lebanese militias grew stronger and soon surpassed the regular army.

Lebanese militias in Sidon were called out for fear the violence might spill over into the city itself, the witnesses, reached by telephone, said.

The six were taken prison in Beirut at the end of 1987 by the Lebanese Forces militia.

The Lebanese Forces militia has 6,000 fighters and its number can be doubled when fully mobilized.