Special reports: Israel-Lebanon Conflicts  [Video] [Gallery]

                Israel, Lebanon agree on ceasefire

    ROME, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said Italian troops deployed in Lebanon as part of a UN peacekeeping force will not be tasked with disarming Hezbollah.

    In an interview with weekly L'Espresso published on Thursday, the minister said "it would be wrong to say our soldiers are going there to disarm Hezbollah."

    He said in the conflict between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel, which he described as "a disastrous political mistake," "large swathes" of the Lebanese population now support the militia group.

    "They consider it a kind of national resistance force," he explained.

    Under such circumstances, the only way to disarm the movement would be bringing it under government control and incorporating it into the existing Lebanese army, said the minister.

    Italy has promised to send 3,000 troops to contribute to a French-led UN force in south Lebanon, which will help the Lebanese army enforce a UN-sponsored truce between Israel and Hezbollah, which came into effect on Monday.

    The Italian cabinet will meet on Friday to discuss Italy's involvement, after which D'Alema and Defense Minister Arturo Parisi will explain the details to the House and Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees.

    The committees will be called on to approve a resolution authorizing Italy's contribution to the UN force.

    The beefed-up UN force, from 2,000 to 15,000, was authorized under UN Resolution 1701 unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council last Friday, which also calls for Israel's withdrawal from the area.

    The month-long conflict between Israel and Hezbollah was triggered by Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border attack on July 12.

    The conflict has left over 1,000 Lebanese and some 150 Israelis dead. Enditem

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    ROME, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said Thursday that a "political solution" should be found to disarm the militant group Hezbollah.

    Speaking to reporters in the Tuscan resort of Castiglione dellaPescaia ,Prodi stressed that Italian peacekeepers who will be deployed in Lebanon as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force will "stick firmly to the UN mandate" for the mission.  Full story>>

    Hezbollah to co-op with UN force: Lebanese PM tells Prodi

    ROME, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniorahas assured Italy that the militant group Hezbollah will cooperate with a United Nations peacekeeping force, according to the statement issued Thursday by Italian premier's office.

    During a "long and cordial phone conversation" with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, Siniora thanked Italy for its promises to contribute to the international force, which is being sent to help the Lebanese army enforce a ceasefire in effect since Monday, the statement said. Full story>>

    Hezbollah's disarmament is internal affairs: president

    BEIRUT, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said on Wednesday that whether to disarm Hezbollah is Lebanon's internal affairs, and Lebanon will take steps only when consensus is reached among all Lebanese.

    Before attending a cabinet meeting, Lahoud told reporters here that Hezbollah is the only Arab force capable of resisting and defeating Israel, so no one can disarm it, not even by force. Full story>>

    It's Beirut's job to disarm Hezbollah, says White House

    "It's important to realize that the Lebanese government will be in charge of disarming Hezbollah, and we expect that to happen," White House spokesman Tony Snow said at a news briefing.  Full story>>