UN envoy: Israel should withdraw from occupied territories

UN secretary general's special envoy in Lebanon Terge Roed-Larsen said today for the resolution of the crisis in Lebanon and achieving a long-term ceasefire in the region, Iran and Syria should be actively involved.

In an interview with Spanish newspaper ABC, Roed-Larsen said the UN secretary general is adamant that all regional countries notably Iran and Syria should be invited to cooperate with the UN to resolve the crisis.

Without participation of the two nations, achieving a ceasefire will be very difficult and for this reason Kofi Annan is in contact with all sides specially Iran and Syria, Larsen underlined.

He also expressed hope that the situation will allow the UN peace keeping force United Nation Interim Force for Lebanon - UNIFIL - to be deployed quickly in the area between Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Currently it appears that neither Israel nor Hizbullah is interested in accepting a speedy ceasefire and both sides are uttering statements in favor of continuation of the hostilities, the UN envoy said.

He also said "establishing an immediate ceasefire needs a firm political underpinning to create adequate incentives." He stressed on the immediate dispatch of humanitarian relief to the affected Lebanese under the barrage of Zionist artillery and the need for creating grounds for deployment of a unilateral force under the auspices of the UN.

Responding to a question on the form that a security zone between Lebanon and Israel will take, he added "it is too early to answer such a question although it appears that Israel is trying to establish a blue line with its border with Lebanon." The main issue is to find a way for the Lebanese army - and international force who could be called upon to help - to deploy in order to control the area without any violence.

"Our hope is that Israel would withdraw from the occupied territories."