Special report: Israel-Lebanon conflicts [Gallery] [Videos]
BEIRUT, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's cabinet decided
unanimously on Monday to deploy 15,000 troops in south Lebanon as soon as Israel
withdrew its troops from the area, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said after a
cabinet session on Monday.
"The government stresses its willingness to send a
15,000-strong Lebanese army force to south Lebanon as Israeli forces pullback
behind the Blue Line (border)," the cabinet said in a statement read by Aridi.
The Lebanese army had called up reservists ahead of
the planned deployment to the south, where thousands of Israeli troops are
fighting Hezbollah guerrillas.
Aridi did not explicitly say whether Hezbollah would
pull out of border areas it has been controlling since Israeli pullout from
south Lebanon in 2000.
Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has said there
will be no ceasefire until international forces are deployed in south Lebanon
and Hezbollah guerrillas removed from the border area.
"We need international intervention forces that have
military capabilities and ability to respond and enforce, and not forces similar
to UNIFIL," he said, referring to UN peacekeepers deployed in the area.
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Olmert: no limits on military action against
Hezbollah
HAIFA, Israel, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) will have no limitations in operations to stop Hezbollah rocket attacks,
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday.
"We cannot have a million residents living in shelters. On
this matter, there will be no limitations on the army," Olmert said during a
visit to the Northern Command, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported. >>>
China's special envoy calls for
unconditional ceasefire in Lebanon
DAMASCUS, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's special envoy on the
Middle East, Sun Bigan, called here Monday for an immediate unconditional
ceasefire in conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah.
"Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah should end hostilities
immediately to avoid further deterioration of humanitarian crisis in Lebanon,"
Sun told a press conference following a closed-door meeting with Syrian Vice
President Farouk al-Shara. >>>
Arab FMs meet over Israel-Lebanon
conflict
BEIRUT, Aug. 7
(Xinhua) -- Arab foreign ministers started an emergency meeting here on Monday
over the conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Shiite group Hezbollah.
Foreign ministers from over 20 Arab
countries and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa began a closed-door
meeting, which was also attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. >>>
