"The allegations made in the daily (Haaretz) that UNIFIL was 'intentionally concealing information,' 'presenting half truths,' 'misleading the (U.N.) Security Council,' or 'whitewashing' information about Hezbollah activities, are without any basis," said the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Haaretz, quoting senior Israeli officials, said Monday UNIFIL was concealing information of incidents in an effort to avoid a confrontation with the Shiite militia Hezbollah.

Over the past six months, UNIFIL failed to take action or notify the Security Council over four incidents with armed militants of Hezbollah, according to the daily.

UNIFIL insisted in a statement that "in the event of any incident...UNIFIL follows standard procedures that includes immediate action necessary to address the situation on the group.

"UNIFIL also immediately informs the Security Council about all developments on the ground," it said.

The force was set up in 1978 and reinforced after the July-August 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah that ended with a U.N. ceasefire resolution banning armed Hezbollah guerrillas from entering the border zone with the Jewish state. -AFP