Lebanon slams Israeli 'aggression'

2010-08-03 16:04

Beirut - Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday slammed Israel's "aggression" against their country as Lebanese and Israeli troops exchanged fire along their tense border.

Hariri condemned the "violation of Lebanese sovereignty and demands ... the United Nations and the international community bear their responsibilities and pressure Israel to stop its aggression", a statement from his office said.

"The president denounces the new Israeli violation of Resolution 1701, which includes ... the bombing of a Lebanese army checkpoint and attacks on Lebanese property," a statement released by Sleiman's office said.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701 ended a devastating 2006 war between Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah and Israel and beefed up the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil), charged with overseeing a ceasefire between the two enemies.

Three Lebanese soldiers were killed and a civilian wounded near the Lebanese village of Adaysseh across the border from Misgav Am after clashes erupted at about noon, security officials said.

An unspecified number of Israeli troops were also hurt in the fighting, they said.

The fighting broke out after Israeli troops tried to uproot a tree blocking their view in a disputed border area, Lebanese army and security officials said.

Israel said its forces were carrying out work inside Israeli territory between a security fence and a UN-drawn border when they were fired upon.

Unifil spokesperson Neeraj Singh told AFP the international force was working to restore calm in the area and urged maximum restraint on both sides.

- AFP