Special report: Israel-Lebanon conflicts [Gallery] [Videos]

Israel, Lebanon agree on ceasefire

    ANKARA, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday welcomed Turkey's contribution to a UN peacekeeping forces to be deployed in south Lebanon.

    During a joint press conference with his Turkish Counterpart Abdullah Gul in Istanbul, Steinmeier expressed hope that the German parliament would make a decision on the same issue in the near future.

    The Turkish parliament on Tuesday voted 340-192 in favor of sending troops to Lebanon to monitor a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas, with one abstention.

    Talking about mission of German police officers and customs officials in Beirut, Steinmeier said that those officials would serve as consultants at Beirut airport which was agreed by UN chief Kofi Annan and the Lebanese government.

    UN Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted on Aug. 11, calls for Israel's withdrawal and an expansion of UN forces in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese government troops take control of south Lebanon after Israel withdraws. Enditem