UN troops seperating Syria and Israel extend mission

The UN Security Council has decided to extend the mission of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in assigned since 1974 to observe disengagement of forces between Syria and Israel on the Golan Heights for another six months ending on November 30, 1998.

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved resolution no. 1169 providing for extending this mission on a regular basis each every six month since the foundation of UNDOF on May 31, 1974 in the Golan Heights occupied by Israel in 1967 and annexed in 1981.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese daily al-Nahar said that Syria set a precondition to sign a peace accord with Israel in that the whole of the Golan heights must be restored to Syria, a matter which is categorically refused by Israel.

The number of UN troops recruited in the Golan is 1,048 from Austria, Canada, Japan and Poland, Al-Nahar added.

Justifying the extension for UN troops in the Golan, the UN Security Council chairman, the Kenyan ambassador at the UN, said: "The situation in the Middle East is still potentially dangerous and may proceed likewise unless a comprehensive solution for the Middle East crisis is maintained."