Annan Demands Hezbollah Free IsraelisMonday August 28, 2006 4:46 PM
AP Photo BEI109
By ZEINA KARAM
Associated Press Writer
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan demanded
Monday that Hezbollah release two captured Israeli soldiers to the
international Red Cross, and that Israel lift its air and sea blockade
of Lebanon.
Also Monday, Turkey's Cabinet voted to send peacekeepers, becoming
the only Muslim country that has relations with Israel to propose
deploying troops. Turkey's Parliament will convene later this week or early
next week to debate becoming part of an expanded U.N. force.
Visiting Beirut on the first leg of an 11-day Mideast tour, Annan said
he was renewing his "call for the abducted soldiers to be free," and urged
Hezbollah to transfer them to the Lebanese government "or a third party"
under the auspices of the international Red Cross.
-snip-Annan also urged Israel to lift its blockade on Lebanon. "I'm working with them
and a number of international partners to see to it that this is done," he said.
-snip-