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Lebanon: UN envoy meets with officials on concerns over Blue Line violations

Lebanon: UN envoy meets with officials on concerns over Blue Line violations

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Amid continuing incidents along the Blue Line of Israeli withdrawal in southern Lebanon, a United Nations envoy today met with Lebanese officials to convey the UN's deep concern over the danger posed by an escalation of violence in the area.

Staffan de Mistura, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Personal Representative for southern Lebanon, held talks with Lebanon's Minister of Defence, Khalil Harawi. Their meeting followed a number of incidents along the Blue Line, including rocket fire from Lebanese territory into the village of Ghahar, where five children were wounded in the attack. Israeli forces retaliated with artillery and air raids on targets in Lebanon.

"No reasonable person can have doubts about the potential for escalation and miscalculation in this present climate," Mr. de Mistura told reporters in Beirut on Sunday.

Noting that Israel had retaliated to a Hezbollah attack the previous day by dropping 33 aerial bombs, he called on all sides to exercise restraint.

The UN envoy urged the Lebanese Government to exert control over incidents originating from its territory and "to concretely take the necessary measures in order to not allow further violations from this side that could inflame the Blue Line."