Israel blamed for fatal Sidon SLA shelling

The Five-nation international cease-fire monitoring committee on August 24 rejected Israel's attempt to distance itself from the fatal shelling of Sidon last week, holding it responsible for actions undertaken by its surrogates, the South Lebanon Army.

The committee's statement appeared to endorse the views of Lebanon and Syria that even if Antoine Lahd's fighters had fired the lethal rounds that killed seven people including a 50-day-old infant, Israel still remains responsible for keeping in the militia under its direct command.

Also the committee blamed Lebanon for allowing the resistance to violate the terms of the truce in confrontations that had pushed the turbulent region to the brink of an abyss.

Meanwhile Lebanese President Elias Hrawi said at the first festival in honor of emigrants held on August 24 in Aley, "Lebanon advocates peace if it is just, comprehensive and based on international resolutions and the concept of land for peace."

He added " however we will not join any separate talks over parts of our occupied land because our right is indivisible... Let Israel withdraw and we will guarantee security at our internationally-recognized borders."