Lebanonwire.com | UN urges Beirut to assert greater control over Lebanon

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January 31, 2006

UN urges Beirut to assert greater control over Lebanon

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Tuesday called on Lebanon to assert more authority over its entire territory and condemned recent serious incidents on the Lebanon-Israel border.

The 15-member council unanimously adopted a resolution that "urges the Lebanese government to assert its authority in the south, to exert control and monopoly over the use of force and to maintain law and order on its entire territory."

It also pressed Beirut to prevent attacks across the so-called Blue Line, the UN-demarcated border between Lebanon and Israel, while reiterating "its strong support the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries."

The council expressed grave concern at the lingering tension along the Blue Line following attacks initiated by the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah last November and rocket attacks from Lebanon into Israel last month.

While the Al-Qaeda terror network in Iraq claimed responsibility for the December rocket attack in an unverifiable statement, Israel and the United States both insisted it could not have taken place without the knowledge of Hezbollah, which faces calls for the disarming of its military wing.

Lebanon's government has been nearly paralysed since December 12, when Hezbollah and the country's other Syrian-backed Shiite movement, Amal, ordered their cabinet members not to participate.

Two weeks ago, the security council already urged Beirut to pursue efforts to secure the disbanding and disarming of the militias, notably Hezbollah, through a broad national dialogue.

Hezbollah militants were instrumental in bringing about the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon in 2000 and the group insists its forces must remain there to prevent a new Israeli occupation.

The council meanwhile decided to extend the current mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which expired Tuesday, for another six months until July 31.