Lebanon asks for extending UNIFIL's presence in the south

Lebanon has asked the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to extend for 6 months for the UN forces working in south Lebanon UNIFIL as from the beginning of next month August.

The Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud said the Lebanese request implies the importance of keeping the same number of these forces under the current conditions in order to complete its mission especially towards restoring back security and stability to the region.

On the other hand, the Lebanese minister said that the agenda of the committee on the Arab peace initiative to be held in Cairo on Friday will be only limited to one item which is commitment to the Arab initiative and continuing of contacts to this effect.