Twenty-five Lebanese who had fled to occupied Palestine following the “Israeli” occupation forces' retreat from south Lebanon in May returned home Monday, the police said.

The group included four ex-members of the now-defunct pro-”Israeli” militia.

The nine men, eight women, and eight children, crossed over from occupied Palestine into the coastal town of Naqoura. They were received by representatives of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and turned over to Lebanese police.

The nine men, including four who admitted that they had been members of the defunct militia, were held for questioning. The others, women and children, were allowed to return to their villages of Rmaish, Qlaia, Dibel and Marjeyoun.

Some 6,500 Lebanese, mostly former militiamen and their families, followed the “Israeli” occupation army as it retreated from Lebanon in May.

According to police figures, about 555 of those who fled to occupied Palestine have returned to Lebanon.

More than 2,200 Lebanese are in the process of being tried before the military court in Beirut, or have already been convicted, for collaboration with "Israel" or having contact with the “Israeli” enemy.

Manar TV, 22-8-2000.