Reports differ on fighting in the hills east of Beirut

Fighting erupted in the hills east of Beirut Tuesday.

Accounts of who was involved differed. Troops of President-elect Bashir Gemayel's right-wing Christian militia were fighting local leftist forces said to be bombing the west Beirut homes of deputies who helped elect Mr. Gemayel, security sources said. State-run Beirut Radio said Syrian and Israeli gunners were exchanging heavy artillery fire in the area. Israeli sources denied the Beirut Radio report. Israel Radio gave a third version, saying Christian militiamen were fighting Syrians.

There was also increasing tension farther east in the Bekaa Valley, where Israel accused Palestinian guerrillas of attacking its forces from behind Syrian lines.