Beirut, 28 August (AKI) - UN secretary general Kofi Annan in Beirut at the start of a Middle East tour has said the fragile ceasefire is holding and urged Israel to lift its air and sea embargo on Lebanon. "I fear the risk is great of the renewal of hostilities," he told a press conference, after talks in the Lebanese capital with prime minister Fuad Siniora and other leaders. His mission will also take him to Israel, Syria and Iran.
Annan told the parties involved that the UN resolution 1701, that allowed a ceasefire to come into force on 14 August, must be implemented in its entirety. "It is a fixed menu, it is not a buffet, not a smorgasbord, not a la carte." | "And now, excuse me. It's time for my lunch" |
Annan added that all nations in the region must respect the embargo on arms shipments into Lebanon. He said that during his meeting with a minister of Hezbollah he had urged the group to hand over the two ISraeli soldiers kidnapped on 12 July.
He said the planned UN led peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon UNIFIL "now has nearly 9,000 troops", adding that Muslim countries will participate.Turkey's cabinet on Monday agreed in principle to sending troops, though it must be approved by parliament. |