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U.N. troops in more south Lebanon border areas |
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July 31, 2000
BINT JBEIL, Lebanon (AP) - Peacekeepers hoisted the U.N. flag on the Lebanese-Israeli border Sunday as they took up positions following Lebanon's approval for deploying more of the international force. A unit of about 50 peacekeepers in five white armored vehicles, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved early Sunday morning to an area on the border just across from the Israeli town of Metulla. Soldiers raised the blue U.N. flag, blocked access to the road and declared the area under U.N. control, banning people from approaching. A unit from the Irish battalion, which has been been deployed in the south since 1978, arrived first apparently to inspect the area. It was later followed by newcomer peacekeepers from Sweden who stayed; the seasoned Irish later left. Sweden joined the south Lebanon U.N. force earlier in July. About 50 Indian soldiers moved further east to Abbassiyeh. They hoisted the U.N. flag and set up four tents. The peacekeepers blocked the road behind them to keep a cattleherder and his flock from following them. As they deployed, two U.N. soldiers stopped by for coffee at a nearby position of Hezbollah, the guerrillas who fought the Israelis in southern Lebanon for 18 years and have taken effective control of the border area after the withdrawal. Armed Hezbollah guerrillas watched as the troops deployed. Guerrilla leaders have pledged to cooperate with the Lebanese government and peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. About 5,000 UNIFIL peacekeepers are stationed in areas further north from the border in southern Lebanon since a 1978 Israeli invasion. They have been waiting to move to the border region in line with U.N. resolutions after Israeli troops ended an 18-year occupation of a buffer zone in southern Lebanon in May. Lebanon has been refusing to consent to the U.N. to deploy to the border, maintaining that Israel first must end violations of Lebanese territory. On Saturday, a U.N. statement said President Emile Lahoud authorized deployment of the U.N. force to four locations along the border. On Friday, Irish and Ghanaian peacekeepers took over two border hills at Manara and Yaroun that have been the site of recent Israeli violations of Lebanese territory. The possible reason for the peacekeepers' deployment in stages was Lebanon's complaint that Israel continues to violate a border line drawn by the United Nations to confirm Israel's May withdrawal from south Lebanon. Initial deployment was scheduled for Wednesday, but Lebanon balked. Prime Minister Salim Hoss said Saturday that the full deployment will start as soon as "one last Israeli border violation is rectified." Though limited, the U.N. presence in the Israeli-evacuated zone was expected to improve security in the border area, where stone-throwing incidents and standoffs between Israeli soldiers and Lebanese civilians and guerrillas have raised tension. Lebanon also has readied a 1,000-member security force of police and army commandos to move in when U.N. peacekeepers fully deploy. The Lebanese forces are to maintain law and order in the former Israeli-occupied zone, where some assaults against alleged pro-Israelis and their families have been reported. |