Armed Elements intercept UNIFIL Patrol, 1701 Challenged Seriously

by **Admin** Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:04 pm

U.N.
Peacekeepers complained on Wednesday that armed elements have
infiltrated into their area of operations in south Lebanon and
intercepted a patrol for the first time since Aug. 2006.

They urged the Lebanese government to establish identity of the group that violated U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.

Yasmina
Bouziane, spokesperson for the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, said five
unidentified armed elements intercepted a UNIFIL patrol that was
chasing a tug truck in the western sector of south Lebanon on the
evening of March 30.

The
five gunmen in two vehicles were "warned by the UNIFIL patrol. They
left the area and their identity could not be determined," she added.

The Lebanese Army "failed to locate the truck and the armed elements," Bouziane added.

She
urged the Lebanese authorities to determine the identity of "those
responsible for this violation" of UNSCR 1701, so that it wouldn't be
repeated.