1982: Refugees massacred in Beirut camps

More than 1,000 people are feared to have been killed during a 24-hour rampage by Lebanese militia in West Beirut.

The Christian Phalangist group are reported to have murdered entire families in cold blood in the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila.

The massacre was apparently revenge for the assassination four days ago of the Christian President-elect, Bashir Gemayel.

The Israeli army moved into the area a few hours after Mr Gemayel was murdered, and has been accused of helping the militia during the killing - or at least not intervening to prevent further loss of life.

It is impossible to estimate accurately how many have been killed, but the first journalists to enter the camps reported seeing hundreds of bodies spread over several acres.

A nurse working at Akka hospital near Shatila said the Lebanese gunmen had fired indiscriminately.

"One little boy told me the Phalangists had kicked open the door and shot all of his family in front of him - he was the only survivor," he said.

Not many Israeli soldiers can be proud of what happened here

Israeli officer

