The World - News from Sept. 10, 1986

The Lebanese Cabinet vowed to close militia-run seaports in an effort to save the country’s battered economy. Both Christian and Muslim militias have operated their own ports over the past decade, imposing their own “customs duties” and depriving the government of import taxes that once were a major source of its income. Premier Rashid Karami said the Cabinet also agreed that militias should relinquish control of the five official, government-built harbors. The decision goes into effect Sept. 30, Karami said. Previous Cabinets have made similar decisions, none of which was ever fully enforced.