Special report:
Israel-Lebanon
conflicts [Gallery] [Videos]
Israel, Lebanon agree on
ceasefire
BEIRUT, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan
arrived on Monday at Rafik Hariri International airport in Beirut to begin his
visit in Lebanon aimed largely at bolstering a two-week-old UN-brokered
ceasefire in the country.
The UN chief is
scheduled to discuss with Lebanese leaders on the deployment of around 15,000 U.N.
troops in southern Lebanon as well as measures to secure
the border with Syria.
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The United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan
speaks to media at Rafik Hariri International airport in Beirut Aug. 28,
2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Annan, who will spend the night in Beirut, will meet with
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Defense Minister Elias Murrand Parliament
Speaker Nabih Berri.
His visit came as Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah said
his fighters would not oppose UN forces deployed in southern Lebanon, but warned
that the peacekeepers should not seek to take away Hezbollah's weapons.
"We have no problem with UNIFIL (United Nations Interim
Force in Lebanon) as long as its mission is not aimed at disarming Hezbollah,"
Nasrallah said on Sunday in an interview with Lebanese New TV station.
This is Annan's first visit to Lebanon since the
Israel-Hezbollah war that broke out on July 12 following the kidnapping of two
Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah militants in cross-border attacks.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict came to a cease-fire on Aug.
14 thanks to the UN Resolution 1701.
The Resolution 1701, unanimously
adopted by UN Security Council on Aug. 11, calls for Israel's withdrawal and
authorizes an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to
help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws.
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The United Nations Secretary General
Kofi Annan (L) arrives at Rafik Hariri International airport in Beirut Aug. 28,
2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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