Special report: Israel-Lebanon
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BEIRUT, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr said on Saturday he had been assured that Israel would lift its air and sea blockade on Lebanon within a week and that the Israeli army would withdraw in two or three weeks.
Murr made the remarks after talks with UN special
envoy Geir Pedersen. He told reporters that he had "received assurance from Mr.
Pedersen that the blockade would be lifted" in the coming week and that the
Israeli government would meet on Sunday to make a decision on the matter.
The development came amid efforts by UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan during his Middle East trip this week to push
forward the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 adopted on
Aug. 14.
Israel has maintained the blockade despite the fact
that a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters has taken effect
under the resolution.
The Jewish state vows to keep the blockade in place
unless an international force and Lebanese troops deploy in southern Lebanon to
prevent Hezbollah from launching new attacks on Israel and stop their weapons
supplies.
Resolution 1701 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 southern Lebanon.
In another development on Saturday, Lebanese
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the parliament planned to write to the
governments of Arab states calling on them to break the Israeli blockade with
their aircraft and ships.
Berri denounced the blockade as "military aggression"
in violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and Resolution 1701. Enditem
