BEIRUT (XFN-ASIA) – The Lebanese government has rejected a draft UN Security Council resolution on the Hezbollah-Israel conflict, saying it would not end hostilities and asking for the text to be amended. ‘The Lebanese government is opposed to the Franco-American draft and has sent Lebanon’s representative to the UN, Acting Foreign Minister Tarek Mitri, an amended text which includes Lebanon’s demands,’ a government source said.
Lebanon wants a draft UN resolution calling for an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah changed to include an explicit demand for a full Israeli pullout from southern Lebanon, a government source said today. The source, who asked not to be named, said Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora has told US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in a telephone call overnight that Beirut is unhappy with the current text of the resolution.
The draft Franco-US resolution, which demands a ‘full cessation of hostilities’ between Hezbollah and Israel, makes no call for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops currently engaged in major incursions in south Lebanon. ‘Lebanon insists that a ceasefire is accompanied by a withdrawal of the Israeli army beyond the Blue Line (border),’ the government source told Agence France-Presse.
‘The Lebanese army would then deploy up to the Lebanese-Israeli frontier with the assistance of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, reinforced by countries who have already said they are ready to send troops immediately,’ the source cited Siniora has telling Rice.
The resolution ‘will not resolve the crisis neither for the good of Lebanon or for Israel. Israel will not have a guarantee of secure frontiers and Lebanon will not recover all its occupied territory.’
‘The Lebanese government would not be able to prevent Hezbollah from using arms if a part of Lebanon is reoccupied by Israel,’ said Siniora, according to the source.
