BEIJING, Aug. 29 -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has begun an 11-day Middle East tour aimed at strengthening the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. His first stop was Beirut, where he met with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

    After his talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he hoped to see progress on lifting Israel's blockade of Lebanese ports and airports.

    Annan said:"We are working for the lifting of the siege and I have been discussing it with the Israeli authorities and other international partners. And I will discuss it when I am in Israel tomorrow."

    He also touched on the issue of the three Israeli soldiers held by Hamas and Hezbollah.

    He said:"Discussed it today, and the discussions will continue. And I'm sure we will find a solution and they will be released."

    Following the press conference, Siniora and Annan visited the grave site of assassinated former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

    The UN chief then toured Beirut's southern suburbs --- an area that was ravaged by Israel's air strikes during the month-long conflict.

    Annan's visit comes amid signs of behind the scenes maneuvering to arrange a prisoner swap between Israel and Hezbollah to win the release of the soldiers, and of Palestinians and Lebanese held in Israeli prisons. 

(Source: CCTV.com)

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    Annan visits Lebanon to bolster ceasefire

    BEIRUT, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Visiting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan here Monday urged Hezbollah to deliver captured Israeli soldiers to the Lebanese government under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

    "I renewed my call to asked the two captured Israeli soldiers be freed and transferred under the auspices of ICRC to the Lebanese government," Annan said in a joint press conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. full story>>