Expected Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon

The Monte Carlo Radio correspondent in occupied Jerusalem quoted Israeli security sources as saying that they do not rule out Israel maintaining an early withdrawal from south Lebanon and evacuate it before July 7.

The sources added that Gen. Uzi Dayan, who is in charge of the withdrawal, gave his instructions to all military sides concerned to accelerate preparations and to wait for a decision to be taken by the Israeli leadership to start the withdrawal.

The radio indicated that the Israeli government had agreed with the UN secretary general to inform him secretly of the date for the withdrawal one week before starting it. The radio reported that the Israeli Army's chief of staff, Shaoul Mofaz, has repeatedly said he will recommend an early withdrawal from Lebanon in case of the military escalation on the Lebanese front.

For its part, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak had denied that the issue of withdrawing heavy weapons from the South Lebanon Army (SLA) militia has been discussed with France or has existed on the agenda of the Lebanese question at the present.