BEIRUT, Lebanon - The security situation in southern Lebanon is worsening and United Nations peacekeeping forces are in danger of becoming embroiled in any outbreak of violence, according to the joint chief of an Italian parliamentary delegation which is visiting the country. "The situation for UNIFIL (the UN force) is becoming ever more worrying," delegation head Sergio De Gregorio told Adnkronos International (AKI) in an interview. "The Italian contingent faces grave risks," he added.

"UNIFIL's seizure of an arms cache last week showed that the [peacekeeping troops] are not just there to look on and that it has an active role in disarming Hezbollah militants in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1701," De Gregorio who heads the defence commission of Italy's upper house of parliament, the Senate, told AKI.

"But there are also the threats made against the international contingent by groups linked to al-Qaeda who have an interest in provoking [violent] incidents," he said.

De Gregorio also warned against "underestimating" what he described as "veiled threats" made by Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah.

The delegation paid a visit Sunday to the Italian contingent of the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at its headquarters in the southern Lebanese town of Tibnin. De Gergorio and the head of the Italian Senate's foreign affairs committee, Lamberto Dini, met with the commander of the Italian toops, General Paolo Gerometta

Speaking to reporters in Naqoura, Dini said he had no information on the presence of an al-Qaeda cell in Lebanon, but hoped the mission of the peacekeepers in the South "continues to run as smoothly and calmly."

Lebanese defence minister Elias Murr has said there are "intelligence reports" of a possible al-Qaeda threat against UNIFIL. -AKI