Lift blockade or we'll break it, Lebanon tells Israel
Last Updated Wed, 06 Sep 2006 10:29:24 EDT
CBC News
Lebanon will attempt to break Israel's blockade of its land, sea and air routes if Israeli forces do not allow them to reopen within 48 hours, Lebanon's foreign minister was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he hoped the blockade could be lifted in 48 hours. Under a deal brokered by the UN, European naval vessels would patrol the Lebanese coast to ease Israeli fears about arms shipments to the militant group Hezbollah.
On Wednesday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh welcomed Annan's plan but said he was unwilling wait longer.
"We will wait for the 48 hours given by Kofi Annan, and if the situation is resolved, we will thank him," Reuters reported Salloukh as saying in Cairo, where he was attending a meeting of Arab foreign ministers.
"If it is not, the Lebanese government will take the necessary measures and we will break the blockade with all our might."
It was not clear how Lebanon's small armed forces, equipped with helicopters and patrol boats, could prevail against the much stronger Israeli military or what other measures the country of 3.8 million could take to open its borders.
The blockade has been in place since Israel launched a month-long assault against Lebanese-based Hezbollah fighters in July.
Israel has said it could dismantle the blockade gradually as Lebanese and UN forces take control of the border, but has set no time line.
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