Hizbullah and Unifil predict calm in the South

A Hizbullah official and the spokesman of the UN peacekeeping force in the South met on August 21 and discussed tensions in the area and the grievances of Lebanese employees with the UN force.

After their talks in Tyre, Sheikh Nabil Qaouq, Hizbullah's leader in the South, and Timur Goksel, political advisor to the UN Interim Force in south Lebanon (Unifil), played down the prospects of an Israeli escalation against Lebanon.

"The April truce monitoring group is still in operation and it has been in session since August 21," Goksel said, adding that people should be wary of scare-mongering by the media.

For his part, Qaouq said, "We have discussed means of comforting our people in the South, especially after a wave of rumors aimed at undermining their steadfastness. There is no reason to panic and flee the South."

Goksel and Qaouq also discussed the issue of 29 Lebanese Unifil staff who will be laid off on September 1, as part of UN expenditure cuts.

"Mr. Goksel promised to tackle this issue taking into consideration its humanitarian side," Qaouq said.