Larsen Says Israel Ends Most Border EncroachmentU.N. envoy Terje Roed Larsen said on Monday Israel has ended most border encroachments and the last one will be solved by the end of Monday.At a news conference held after his talks with President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Salim Hoss, Larsen said he and Lahoud reached an agreement that Israel has ended most of the nine border encroachments of the Blue Line, which was drawn by the U.N. as Israel's withdrawal line from south Lebanon. Larsen said it will be the time to discuss the issue of deploying United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)in south Lebanon. Larsen also revealed that the leader of UNIFIL have briefed the development of the process to Secretary General Kofi Annan, who will release a statement to the Security Council about Israel's ending of border encroachments. He said the U.N. will begin to discuss deployment of UNIFIL and Lebanese army in the south since it has authenticated Israel's entire withdrawal from Lebanon. "We will talk about that issue in tomorrow's meeting," Larsen said. Meanwhile, Lebanon suggest the U.N. make an exploration on the ground in order to ascertain Israel's entire withdrawal. Lebanese leaders also raised the issue of detainees in Israeli prisons. The Jewish state has held about 20 Lebanese as a bargain chip to exchange an Israeli pilot who is allegedly in the hands of the Lebanese resistance. |
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