Lebanese contacts to calm down the situation in south Lebanon

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Monday in Beirut said that Lebanon "will never fall into any trap so long as it follows the same track as Syria."

During his meeting with the delegation of the Association of the International Faculty Graduates of the Lebanese University, the Lebanese President made it clear that in terms of contacts Lebanon has been making on the question of Arnoun, it had become evident that Israel was trying to entrap Lebanon in return for dismantling the barbed wire under the pretext that Israel would remove the wire from anyplace provided that its security must be ensured.

The Lebanese president said Lebanon could overcome the Israeli trap, thanks to the Lebanese university students and youths who removed the barbed wire set up by Israel surrounding the town.

The Lebanese president stated in this respect that, "Through the April Understanding Monitoring Committee, Lebanon warned Israel against attacking any of the unarmed Lebanese youths who broke into Arnoun." He highlighted the unity of Lebanon's position against Israeli aggressions.

Concerning the latest developments, the Lebanese president said he had contacts with members of the monitoring committee to curb the repeated Israeli attacks. He also said the US charge d'affairs had told him his country is working to ease tensions.

In the same context, President Lahoud, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss on Monday continued to follow up developments taking place in Lebanon. On Sunday, the Lebanese Premier made contacts with the French ambassador and the US charge d'affaires in Beirut and ask them to work for halting the new Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

Al-Hoss indicated that the Israeli allegations that Katyusha rockets were fired on towns in northern Israeli were "groundless."

To this end, the head of the Lebanese delegation at the April Understanding Monitoring Committee, Col. Maher al-Tufeieli, told the chief of the committee, Richard Erdman, that Lebanon is concerned with easing tensions in the south and is committed to provisions of the April Understanding.

Meanwhile, The April Understanding cease fire committee will hold an urgent meeting in Beirut. The Lebanese Prime Minister received a phone call from US Undersecretary of State Martin Indyk, in which the US official confirmed to al-Hoss that the US is going to hold an urgent meeting of the cease fire group to discuss the situation.