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Lebanese PM Says Israeli Withdrawal Incomplete
Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss said Friday evening that "Israeli has not completely withdrawn from south Lebanon," People's Sound radio reported.
Hoss said in a statement to the press that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan "can not announce the end of the withdrawal according to (U.N.) Resolution 425," which calls for Israel's unconditional withdrawal from south Lebanon.
Hoss' remark was a response to Annan's statement made earlier in the day in New York, in which the U.N. chief confirmed that Israel had fully withdrawn from south Lebanon.
"We are waiting eagerly for the announcement of a full Israeli withdrawal to the international border so that the border fence can go ahead," Hoss said in the statement.
Hoss said Israel still occupies Lebanese territory at some parts of border. "The Lebanese expert team that worked with U.N. officers in inspecting the borders observed that Israeli military posts are still situated inside Lebanese borders and several pieces of Lebanese lands are under Israel's control," Hoss added.
Annan is scheduled to visit Lebanon on Monday as part of his Middle East trip. He will talk with Lebanese leaders on verifying the Israeli withdrawal and reinforcing the U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon.
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