On the Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon

The London-based al-Hayat daily said on Friday quoting high ranking diplomatic sources as saying that the UN secretary general Kofi Annan and the coordinator of the UN activities in the Middle East Terry Larson have asked the UN official in Gaza Andrew Gilmore to follow up the issue of Israel's determination to withdraw from South Lebanon.

The sources added that Larson asked the Lebanese President to appoint two officials to coordinate with Gilmore in this regard and that the Lebanese President responded by appointing Lt. Gen. Jamil al- Sayyed and Yahya Mahmasani.

Larson added that he asked the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara also to follow up this issue and al-Shara proposed the former US ambassador in Washington Walid al-Muíallim.

Worthy mentioning that Gilmore is a British diplomat in charge of helping Larson in Gaza in the question of the Palestinian refugees and that Larson and Gilmore, who are now in Lebanon are following up this issue with the Israeli side.