Truce monitors blame Israel for casualties

Truce monitors meeting in south Lebanon blamed Israel Tuesday for a blast that killed a Lebanese shepherd and shelling that wounded a civilian.

"Israel and those collaborating with it are responsible for the manner in which they use explosive devices," a statement issued by the group at the end of a long meeting said.

The shepherd was killed Friday in Majdel Zoun, a village facing an Israeli-occupied enclave in southern Lebanon. Israeli artillery also wounded a Lebanese man in Yater on Sunday. But the five-nation group said the injury was "unintentional."

The statement called on Israeli troops and Lebanese guerrillas fighting to drive them out of south Lebanon to take necessary measures to "prevent random civilian casualties" on both sides of the border. It also urged the parties to "avoid such regrettable incidents."

The committee is made up of representatives from the United States, France,Syria, Israel and Lebanon. It was set up in April 1996 following Israeli aggression against guerrillas in south Lebanon in which more than 150 civilians were killed.

The monitors meet frequently in the southern coastal town of Naqoura to discuss complaints lodged by Lebanon or Israel, claiming violations to a U.S.-brokered understanding which prohibits attacks on civilian targets. It was their fifth meeting this year.