Trials of Lebanese 'collaborators' continue

A military court in Lebanon has sentenced to death the intelligence chief of the pro-Israeli militia which used to control areas of south Lebanon occupied by Israel.

The man, Simon Choufi, fled to northern Israel after the Israeli military withdrawal last May, and was tried in his absence.

The court hearing was part of a series which began after the withdrawal to try those accused of collaborating with Israel and mostly involve members of the South Lebanon Army.

More than 2,400 people have been tried so far, some in their absence.

Many have been given jail sentences of up to seven years; a number of death sentences and terms of life imprisonment have been imposed on defendants in their absence.

Human rights groups have criticised the trials as a travesty of justice that do not help national reconciliation.

Thousands of Lebanese fled to Israel after the withdrawal.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service