Lebanese premier urges further contacts on Arnoun occupation

Lebanese Premier and Foreign Minister Salim al-Hoss has asked Lebanon's permanent representative at the UN to intensify his contacts with UN Security Council members, especially the five permanent states, the UN Secretary General and the representative of the Arab group at the UN in order to listen to their views concerning the question of Arnoun, before the government decides on its next position concerning the town, newly annexed by Israel.

The question of Arnoun was also discussed earlier on Wednesday and Thursday in separate telephone conversations al-Hoss had with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Berri met on Wednesday with the US ambassador to Lebanon for the second time in 24 hours. Talks dealt with latest developments in south Lebanon in the context of the escalated Israeli aggressions and the annexation of Arnounto the occupied part of south Lebanon.

The US ambassador also met at the headquarters of the Lebanese Parliament with the deputy speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Eli Farzli.

Diplomatic sources in the Lebanese capital said they believe that the US ambassador is trying to convince the Lebanese government not to lodge a compliant to the UN Security Council concerning the town of Arnoun.