Last update - 00:00 07/09/2007
Lebanon calls on Syria to reduce arms smuggling across border
By The Associated Press
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora urged Syria on Thursday to step up its efforts to prevent arms smuggling into Lebanon, echoing a request made by the United Nations in June after it investigated security along the two countries' shared border.
The UN resolution that ended last summer's Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah banned weapon transfers to the Iranian- and Syrian-backed militant group, but the Lebanese and Israeli governments have criticized alleged violations by Syria.
"We've always expressed the necessity for serious border control and suitable efforts by our brothers in Syria to control these borders," said Seniora, following a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo. "The continuation of the [current] situation is subjecting Lebanon to the illegal smuggling of more goods, weapons and individuals."
The U.S. and Israel have repeatedly accused Iran and Syria of supplying Hezbollah with advanced weapons across Syria's border with Lebanon - allegations that Damascus has rejected.
Hezbollah's militias fired nearly 4,000 rockets at northern Israel during the 34-day conflict that began in July 2006, killing 40 Israeli civilians. More than 1,000 Lebanese - mostly civilians - and over 100 Israeli soldiers also died in the fighting.
In late May, the UN Security Council appointed an independent mission to assess monitoring along the Syrian-Lebanese border. Following the investigation, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Syria and Iran to do more to prevent arms smuggling to Lebanon, citing disturbing reports from the Lebanese and Israeli government of alleged violations of the UN arms embargo.
Seniora repeated a similar call for action Thursday, saying, we hope that serious steps take place soon.