UN: Peacekeepers now in Lebanon
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-08-16 16:44 UNITED NATIONS - The United
Nations says the 2,000 UN peacekeepers now in southern Lebanon can start
overseeing the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deployment of the Lebanese
army very quickly if all the parties agree.
But the UN hopes 3,500 well-equipped international troops can reinforce the
UN contingent within 10 to 14 days to help consolidate the fragile cease-fire
and create the conditions for all Israeli forces to head home, Assistant
Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hedi Annabi said Tuesday.
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An Israeli soldier
removes garbage with a truck near the northern Israeli town of Nahariya as
troops continue their withdrawal from south Lebanon August 16, 2006.
[Reuters]
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The Israeli army withdrew part of its force from southern Lebanon on Tuesday,
and a senior UN official said it is possible to complete the Israeli withdrawal
and Lebanese deployment in a week or two.
Under a UN resolution adopted Friday, a cease-fire between Israel and
Hezbollah militants took effect on Monday, after 34 days of fighting and more
than 900 deaths.
The Security Council authorized up to 15,000 UN peacekeepers to help 15,000
Lebanese troops take control of southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws its forces.
The aim is to create a buffer zone free of Hezbollah fighters between the Litani
River, 20 miles north of Israel, and the frontier.
Even though the artillery, guns and rockets have generally fallen silent,
Hezbollah has warned that there is the potential for renewed fighting as long as
Israeli forces remain in Lebanon.
Putting together a UN peacekeeping force usually takes at least three months.
But UN military experts are trying to put a beefed-up force in Lebanon in just a
few weeks.
The top priority at the moment is to get countries to pledge troops.
The United Nations has not yet received any formal offers of troops, though
France, Italy, Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia have indicated they will make
significant contributions, and a dozen other countries have expressed a
willingness to help.
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