UN team calls for ceasefire
2006-07-16 22:45
Beirut - A UN team entrusted to negotiate a truce between Israel and Hezbollah called on Sunday for an end to hostilities, the protection of civilians and the release of Israeli soldiers captured by the Lebanese Shi'ite militant group.
Vijay Nambiar, special political adviser for the UN
secretary-general, called for a ceasefire after talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
He also called for "the release of the captured as part of a solution to this conflict", in a reference to Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers which triggered the Jewish state to launch a massive onslaught on the country.
Nambiar called for "the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure".
Dozens of civilians have been killed in Lebanon by the Israeli strikes that have targeted bridges, ports, highways, a power station and the international airport in Beirut.
The five-member mission, which arrived in Beirut earlier on Sunday, also includes UN Middle-East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen.
The delegation kicked off its mission in Cairo.
Two conditions set
Earlier on Sunday, Lebanese information minister Ghazi Aridi said after a cabinet meeting that Beirut was awaiting the arrival of the UN mission to discuss any possible ceasefire to stop the Israel offensive.
He said Lebanon had been informed by Italy that Israel had set two conditions - the release of two soldiers captured by Hezbollah fighters last week and the withdrawal of the Shi'ite militia from its stronghold in southern Lebanon.
"The time for negotiations has not yet come," he said.
"We said the issue would be carried out through the United Nations, so we are awaiting the UN envoys to hear their point of view, discuss with them, negotiate with them, and then the process will start," Aridi told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
Aridi claimed that Israel was "refusing to receive the UN team", but there was no confirmation from the Israeli side.
Nuclear installations 'safe'
Energy minister Mohamad Fneish, who is also a senior Hezbollah official, told reporters that the group was ready to exchange the captured soldiers in return for the release of prisoners.
"Even though the enemy is now rejecting things, he may be forced to accept less than he is now demanding because of the developments on the ground," he said.
Fneish also said Hezbollah would "not target nuclear installations" in Israel.
"The resistance does not launch attacks against any target or installation unless it is a legitimate response."