Israel to cede positions

[tocqueville]

By Andrew Marshall
14 minutes ago

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Israeli forces in southern Lebanon were preparing to hand over some of their positions to U.N. peacekeepers and withdraw more troops on Wednesday as a truce with Hizbollah entered its third day.

Israeli officials said the plan was for the U.N. force, known as UNIFIL, to deploy on Wednesday and Thursday in some Israeli positions not seen by the army as strategically crucial.

At the same time, Israeli officials said, the Lebanese army should begin deploying to the Litani River in southern Lebanon, and then slowly move southward as the Israeli army pulls back.

The truce to end fighting between Israel and Hizbollah began early on Monday and has largely held, although it remains fragile. Israeli soldiers shot five Hizbollah fighters in two incidents in Lebanon on Tuesday, the Israeli army said. It was not known whether any had been killed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060815/ts_nm/mideast_dc_210