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Annan: Involve Red Cross
28/08/2006 17:19 - (SA)
Beirut - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
told the Lebanese government on Monday that he wanted two
Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah to be handed to the Red
Cross, a government source said.
The source, who attended Annan's meeting with the cabinet,
said Annan had also said he would ask Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad later in the week to establish diplomatic ties with
Lebanon and to control the Syrian side of their border.
Annan, who is due in Israel on Tuesday, is seeking progress on all the complex issues between Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah mentioned in security council resolution 1701, which calls for an expanded UN peacekeeping force to cement the August 14 truce.
"We have a chance now to have a long-term ceasefire and a long-term peace and we all need to work together," Annan said after talks with parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah, which has nominated him to negotiate on its behalf.
Annan also held separate talks with energy minister Mohammed Fneish, one of two Hezbollah cabinet ministers, a Lebanese official said. Blockade
The UN resolution authorised up to 13 000 soldiers to join 2 000 Unifil troops already in Lebanon and help 15nbsp;000 Lebanese troops police a border zone free of Israeli or Hezbollah forces.
The new force's role was a central topic in Annan's talks with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, as was the lifting of an Israeli sea and air blockade in force for nearly seven weeks.
"We expect good to come out of these talks," Siniora told reporters afterwards. "On lifting the blockade, this thing is going to happen, God willing, but not within 24 hours."
Israel says it will keep up the air and sea restrictions until an arms embargo on Hezbollah is enforced. It wants UN troops to guard Lebanon's 375km border with Syria.
- Reuters
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