Lebanese premier describes Israeli statements on south Lebanon as maneuvers

Lebanese Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss has asserted that statements made by the Israeli officials concerning Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon are mere maneuvers for serving the election campaigns in Israel.

In a statement to the Saudi daily al-Madina published in Riyadh on Tuesday, al-Hoss said the Israelis are bargaining for each other at the expense of Lebanon and that Israel "is deceiving the world by claiming it will withdraw from south Lebanon."

Al-Hoss asserted Lebanon's position in its persistence to implement UN resolution 425 which calls for Israel's unconditional withdrawal to the internationally recognized borders. Al-Hoss asserted his country's commitment to the 21-year old UN resolution which Israel still violates.

The Lebanese prime minister expressed pride over what Lebanese youths had done in liberating the Arnoun town from the Israeli occupation by dismantling the barbed wire that cordoned the besieged town.

He said his visit to Arnoun intended to congratulate its people for its liberation and to assert "the presence of the state of Lebanon in every liberated inch of Lebanon."