UN Springs Into Action, Demands Full Reports
Charles Johnson
Mon Aug 14, 2006 at 9:31 pm PDT • Views: 290
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has a plan to stop the violence—he’ll demand full reports in triplicate: Annan details Mideast cease-fire terms.
UNITED NATIONS - Secretary-General Kofi Annan has warned Israel and Lebanon against occupying additional territory and told them to refrain from responding to any attacks “except where clearly required in immediate self-defense.”
A copy of a letter that Annan sent to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was obtained Monday by The Associated Press. It set out the U.N.’s expectations of how both sides will fulfill their obligations under the Security Council resolution adopted Friday.
A similar letter was sent to Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
The resolution called for an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah militants, and authorized up to 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to help 15,000 Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon, which was under Hezbollah’s control, as Israel withdraws. The cessation of hostilities took effect early Monday, the 34th day of fighting that claimed more than 900 lives.
Annan told Israel and Lebanon in the letters sent Sunday that once the cessation of hostilities took effect there must be no firing from the ground, sea or air into the other side’s territory or at its forces.
Lebanon and Israel must immediately inform the United Nations if they have been fired on, with as much detail as possible, “refraining from responding except where clearly required in immediate self-defense,” Annan said.
Frank says: