Beirut – U.N. Secretary- General Kofi Annan faulted Israel and Hezbollah on Monday for not living up to key sections of the cease-fire resolution, while two more countries took steps to provide troops for an expanded peacekeeping force to secure the region’s truce.
Germany, meanwhile, hinted that it was negotiating a prisoner swap.
Sitting beside Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Annan demanded Hezbollah return two captured Israeli soldiers, whose July 12 abduction touched off the 34-day war, and he said Israel must lift its blockade of Lebanon.
Despite the criticism, Annan also said the agreement provided a chance for a long-term peace. As the cease-fire held for the 15th day, neither side looked like it wanted to resume large-scale hostilities.
As part of international support for the truce, Italy and Turkey moved to join the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon.
Annan also said the U.N. force, which is to grow to 15,000 soldiers, will not try to disarm Hezbollah guerrillas.
“Down the line … there will have to be disarmament, but it’s up to the Lebanese government and people to resolve themselves,” Annan said. “The (peacekeepers) are not going to go house to house searching for weapons. This is not their responsibility.”
Annan was booed by residents as he toured the devastated Dahiyeh neighborhood in the Hezbollah stronghold of south Beirut.
