Militia major denies men took part in massacre

Maj. Saad Haddad denied his men were involved in the massacre of Palestinians at two Beirut refugee camps in September.

The major, whose forces have been equipped by Israel since he broke away from the Lebanese Army in 1976, told an Israeli judicial inquiry he was ''absolutely sure'' his men were not near the camps during the massacre.

In previous testimony, the commission was told Christian Phalangist militia sent into the camps by Israel carried out the massacre but that a few of Major Haddad's men were seen in the area. The commission also heard evidence that US officials were uneasy about reports from Beirut and alerted the Israelis Sept. 17.