Planting Wiretapping Devices in Southern Lebanon Serious Violation of 1701
U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams has reportedly said if it was proved that Israel had planted wiretapping devices in south Lebanon after the 2006 war then such an act would be a serious and clear violation of resolution 1701.
Pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat quoted Williams as saying following talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheith in Cairo on Thursday that the U.N. was concerned about several incidents in the south in the past few weeks.
The U.N. official said it was still not clear whether Israel planted the devices before or after the 2006 war with Hizbullah adding UNIFIL and the Lebanese army were still investigating the matter.
The army has said that the Israelis destroyed two wiretapping devices themselves with remote-controlled explosive charges once they had been uncovered in south Lebanon Saturday and Sunday. A third device was blown up by Lebanese troops.
Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Husam Zaki said that Abul Gheith stressed to Williams Egypt”s keenness to intensify contacts with involved parties to facilitate the formation of a Lebanese cabinet headed by PM-designate Saad Hariri as soon as possible.
The Egyptian foreign minister also stressed that Lebanon should quickly regain sovereignty over all its territories.
Williams met with Arab League chief Amr Moussa on Wednesday.