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A French UNIFIL soldier walking past armored personnel carriers at a base near Tyre on Monday. (Reuters)
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Last update - 00:00 22/08/2006
UN to grant Lebanon peacekeepers leeway in rules of engagement
By News Agencies
 

Proposed rules of engagement for an expanded UN force in southern Lebanon would allow troops to open fire in self-defense, protect civilians and back up the Lebanese army in preventing foreign forces or arms from crossing the border, according to a UN document obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press.

The 20-page draft was circulated to potential troop-contributing countries last week by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, which is trying to get an additional 3,500 troops on the ground by the end of next week to strengthen the 2,000 overstretched UN peacekeepers already there.

The rules of engagement for the expanded force - which is authorized to grow to 15,000 - have held back some potential troop contributors - notably France - because of concerns that their soldiers would be required to disarm Hezbollah, which has controlled southern Lebanon.
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Some countries have also been concerned that the rules would be overly restrictive, all but preventing commanders from making quick decisions - including using force if needed.

While remaining "predominantly defensive in nature," the draft rules allow for the use of "deadly force" and offensive action, if necessary, to ensure implementation of the Aug. 11 UN resolution that led to the fragile cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah fighters after a brutal 34-day war.

Although there is no authorization in the Security Council mandate or the rules of engagement to disarm Hezbollah, the rules are sufficiently robust to put the U.N. potentially in conflict with armed groups violating the cease-fire or the arms embargo - including Hezbollah. The rules would also give the UN commander on the ground wide-ranging authority to react.

The United Nations got pledges of 3,500 troops for the vanguard of the expanded force last Thursday, but most were from Muslim countries. The UN has appealed to European countries to contribute troops to balance the expanded force so that both Israel and Lebanon will view it as legitimate.

France, which commands the current force and was expected to remain in charge, disappointed the United States, the United Nations and many other countries by committing only 200 additional combat engineers to the 200 troops that are part of the current force.

But a well-informed UN diplomat said France is considering increasing its commitment, and a high-level meeting is planned Thursday with President Jacques Chirac, the foreign and defense ministers, possibly Thursday or Friday, UN diplomats said.

Annan will head to the Middle East from Brussels and diplomats said he is expected to visit Lebanon, Israel, Syria and Iran in an effort to promote support for full implementation of the UN cease-fire resolution.

It calls for 15,000 Lebanese army troops to deploy to southern Lebanon, together with UN peacekeepers, as Israeli troops withdraw. Force could also be used "to ensure the security and freedom of movement of UN personnel and humanitarian workers."

Swedish FM says unsure whether Stockholm could contribute troops
Sweden is ready to help Lebanon clear mines, rebuild roads and restore electricity, but doubtful about sending troops to help preserve a shaky cease-fire, the foreign minister said.

Even a clear mandate for the UN force may not be enough to get the Swedes aboard, Jan Eliasson suggested, underscoring Europe's difficulties in pulling together enough troops for the mission.

"We don't rule out some kind of participation in the military aspect," Eliasson, 65, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday. "But Sweden is now engaged militarily in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Africa. ... We are not talking about infinite resources here."

The Swedes, avid contributors to UN peacekeeping missions worldwide, have not offered any troops to the international force that gives the troops the right to defend themselves without dragging them into the conflict.

"We hope that when we have received clarity, Europe will be able to provide a substantial contribution, but of course we realize it's urgent and that the cease-fire situation is fragile."

Neither Israel nor Hezbollah guerillas gained anything from the conflict, Eliasson said.

"I think that nobody won. I hope this war has shown that military solutions are futile and that the road ahead is through political means," he said.

"The long-term goal has to be an independent Palestine, an Israel that lives in security and a rebuilt Lebanon."
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  1.   Europe 10:28  |  Vital 22/08/06
  2.   Massimo D`Alema 10:36  |  Avrum 22/08/06
  3.   No boom boom lest Italians afraid? They seem unafraid of Hezbolla 10:45  |  Absolute Sweden 22/08/06
  4.   Annan 10:48  |  Jerry 22/08/06
  5.   EU Exposed for Frauds 10:51  |  Jack 22/08/06
  6.   ISRAEL`s Continued Stupidity. NO EXCUSES--First Heal THYSELF! 10:53  |  Proud Pal Defender 22/08/06
  7.   Reading vs Shooting! 10:54  |  Y 22/08/06
  8.   To all you Zionists out there 10:54  |  Hannah 22/08/06
  9.   get over it 11:00  |  george 22/08/06
  10.   Dalemallah 11:09  |  Paolo Ortenzi 22/08/06
  11.   France: Weasels that cannot be trusted 11:09  |  Semsem 22/08/06
  12.   Get over it 11:10  |  George 22/08/06
  13.   UN fears Israel not Hizballah 11:18  |  G 22/08/06
  14.   D`Alema 11:31  |  Deeman 22/08/06
  15.   anti-semitism 11:38  |  Myra 22/08/06
  16.   stop kidnapping soldiers and threatening annihilation 11:43  |  Theodor 22/08/06
  17.   to No 8 11:44  |  Andreas 22/08/06
  18.   to Avrum not one will satisfy Israel 11:48  |  gus 22/08/06
  19.   to Jack Israel is the fake one. 11:53  |  gus 22/08/06
  20.   #7 Hannah 11:53  |  Harry 22/08/06
  21.   The sound of inevitability 11:57  |  Natallie Durson 22/08/06
  22.   Its all a set up, Lebanon Seria and Iran Are finished 11:58  |  Joe 22/08/06
  23.   Y 11:58  |  gus 22/08/06
  24.   To "get over it" 12:03  |  Geoff 22/08/06
  25.   Hannahs cretinous rant.#8 12:05  |  Zardos 22/08/06
  26.   Massimo d`Alema (bis) NR2 for Abramo 12:06  |  Mario Fiorito 22/08/06
  27.   The MASK !!! An israelian production ! 12:06  |  Maria 22/08/06
  28.   Paolo your stupid PM want the Italian 12:10  |  gus 22/08/06
  29.   The Hash Truth 12:11  |  Omar 22/08/06
  30.   The Italian are not stupid 12:11  |  Josh 22/08/06
  31.   To all Zionist out in the world 12:13  |  Ben 22/08/06
  32.   Italy refuse to go anywhere there may be shooting. 12:15  |  Nik 22/08/06
  33.   To Semsem The French are waiting for you to stop shooting 12:16  |  gus 22/08/06
  34.   to no.6 12:16  |  Mike UK 22/08/06
  35.   Israel "keeps shooting" itself in the foot. 12:19  |  Osborne Reed 22/08/06
  36.   to Hanaah 12:19  |  France 22/08/06
  37.   Y - Reading Versus Shooting 12:25  |  Jack 22/08/06
  38.   To Israeli`s 12:31  |  Imad 22/08/06
  39.   Same old record 12:33  |  Alan 22/08/06
  40.   Israeli Peacekeeping Force?? 12:37  |  Andi 22/08/06
  41.   To Absolute Sweden 12:37  |  Alan 22/08/06
  42.   Re:avrum N.2 12:37  |  007 22/08/06
  43.   @5 Jack and those like him who think Europeans are weasels 12:38  |  Jeroen 22/08/06
  44.   PROTECT YOURSELVES 12:39  |  US Citizen 22/08/06
  45.   To Paolo Ortenzi 12:39  |  Lebanese 22/08/06
  46.   Good for Italy that there is no more Berlusconi..... 12:42  |  Dino 22/08/06
  47.   Re:Mario fiorito N.15 12:43  |  007 22/08/06
  48.   War on Terror 12:44  |  AB 22/08/06
  49.   to US Citizin 12:50  |  Alan 22/08/06
  50.   It`s All About Two States, or Is It? 12:50  |  Dave Levi 22/08/06
  51.   Re: Paolo n.10 12:51  |  007 22/08/06
  52.   to number 7 12:51  |  reading 22/08/06
  53.   israel is the one to blame according to europe 12:51  |  paulo2006 22/08/06
  54.   #36--You prove my point--NO GUTS 12:56  |  U 22/08/06
  55.   Re: Jerry n. 4 12:58  |  007 22/08/06
  56.   To Lebanese 12:58  |  Paolo Ortenzi 22/08/06
  57.   peace 12:59  |  georges bteich 22/08/06
  58.   To Dino 13:00  |  Paolo Ortenzi 22/08/06
  59.   PROTECT YOURSELVES 2 13:02  |  European Citizen 22/08/06
  60.   #31 US Citizen--You DO NOT Speak For This, Nor All, Americans! 13:05  |  Proud Pal Defender 22/08/06
  61.   Mario Fiorito 13:06  |  Paolo Ortenzi 22/08/06
  62.   Re:Nik n. 18 13:07  |  007 22/08/06
  63.   @39 US Citizen 13:07  |  Jeroen 22/08/06
  64.   To 007: stop to behave like a child 13:12  |  Alessandro 22/08/06
  65.   israel opened the way-dumb olmert and co. 13:15  |  open eyey 22/08/06
  66.   To Alan--#46 13:16  |  US Citizen 22/08/06
  67.   Italian government 13:17  |  Franco 22/08/06
  68.   to # 46 re:reading 13:20  |  Y 22/08/06
  69.   italian fun 4 everyone 13:24  |  lolotte 22/08/06
  70.   To Nik: learn history 13:26  |  Paolo Ortenzi 22/08/06
  71.   TO 007 (JAMES BOND?) 13:30  |  Mario Fiorito 22/08/06
  72.   Who will defend Lebanon from israel? 13:31  |  Rudy Spear 22/08/06
  73.   to Alessandro: denial will not help you 13:33  |  Paolo Ortenzi 22/08/06
  74.   The Problem 13:33  |  Karim 22/08/06
  75.   ROLE MODEL--#63--Jeroen--don`t be ignorant 13:41  |  US Citizen 22/08/06
  76.   D`Alema 13:42  |  Roberto 22/08/06
  77.   Jeroen - You Jerk 13:53  |  Jack 22/08/06
  78.   Please Mr US Citizen 13:55  |  Alan 22/08/06
  79.   CORRECTION: #31 US Citizen Should Have Been #44 US Citizen. 13:55  |  Proud Pal Defender 22/08/06
  80.   Prodi is a lefty and frequently criticized Israel 14:09  |  Abbas best friend 22/08/06
  81.   #65 14:10  |  DW 22/08/06
  82.   #38 Imad wrong 14:13  |  Josef 22/08/06
  83.   Respect the ceasefire 14:14  |  Tim Rose 22/08/06
  84.   #13 UN fears Israel 14:14  |  JayUK 22/08/06
  85.   #53 Paulo2006 14:20  |  Jouni 22/08/06
  86.   #17 Andreas in Germany 14:22  |  JayUK 22/08/06
  87.   DW -- Litani 14:22  |  Jack 22/08/06
  88.   #6 14:26  |  Drew 22/08/06
  89.   Hey Rose 14:27  |  Jack 22/08/06
  90.   did you? 14:29  |  Andi 22/08/06
  91.   Lebanese youth 14:29  |  Mounir 22/08/06
  92.   The UN Must Be Very Specific 14:40  |  Yaakov Sullivan 22/08/06
  93.   Europe helping Lebanon? Why? 14:40  |  France 22/08/06
  94.   #70-dw-silly response 14:43  |  open eyes 22/08/06
  95.   Same old record 14:45  |  Drew 22/08/06
  96.   Hey Mounir in Lovely Paris 14:49  |  Jack 22/08/06
  97.   Yaakov - Yes the French are Weasels 14:55  |  Jack 22/08/06
  98.   Italian better than French 14:55  |  Jan Park 22/08/06
  99.   To#59 14:58  |  Drew 22/08/06
  100.   To Jeroen 15:02  |  Drew 22/08/06
  101.   Imad - Learn Some History 15:08  |  Jack 22/08/06
  102.   #71 15:12  |  DW 22/08/06
  103.   Hey Drew - Now We Get Back at the Useless EU 15:15  |  Jack 22/08/06
  104.   #83 15:19  |  DW 22/08/06
  105.   Dear Drew 15:26  |  Alan 22/08/06
  106.   UN troops 15:42  |  Allen 22/08/06
  107.   No problem 15:49  |  christa 22/08/06
  108.   Drew one more thing 15:51  |  Alan 22/08/06
  109.   Israel will never learn... 15:51  |  Cassandra 22/08/06
  110.   # 19 Nice one Gus 15:53  |  ChanahS 22/08/06
  111.   Maria # 27 come again? 15:56  |  ChanahS 22/08/06
  112.   Andi & me 15:57  |  scarsafa 22/08/06
  113.   #13: UN fears Israel--silly, and no disarmament 16:00  |  Paul Freedman 22/08/06
  114.   # 86 Sort of a balance 16:06  |  Haham from Bat Yam 22/08/06
  115.   Who wants peace 16:07  |  Leo 22/08/06
  116.   # 80 16:16  |  ChanahS 22/08/06
  117.   Mounir # 85 16:23  |  ChanahS 22/08/06
  118.   Mounir # 85 16:25  |  ChanahS 22/08/06
  119.   scarsafa 16:31  |  ChanahS 22/08/06
  120.   Paul Freedman re UNIFIL 16:34  |  ChanahS 22/08/06
  121.   Wake up UN 16:36  |  twogunz 22/08/06
  122.   13 un FEARS iSRAEL 16:39  |  tWOGUNZ 22/08/06
  123.   #81 UN resolution 16:42  |  DW 22/08/06
  124.   to gus 28 16:43  |  twogunz 22/08/06
  125.   #88 16:46  |  DW 22/08/06
  126.   ChanahS 16:48  |  Andi 22/08/06
  127.   to Jeroen # 45 Amsterdam 16:49  |  Twogunz 22/08/06
  128.   to gus 16:54  |  twogunz 22/08/06
  129.   Nro 70 Grazie Roberto! 16:54  |  Mario Fiorito 22/08/06
  130.   dw #106-not addressing the real problem 17:11  |  open eyes 22/08/06
  131.   Avrum, what are you talking about? 17:12  |  Jake 22/08/06
  132.   Further left or right 17:33  |  Mario 22/08/06
  133.   UN problem 17:39  |  Mario 22/08/06
  134.   #75 US Citizen - US liberties??? 17:40  |  Bor de Wolf 22/08/06
  135.   #130 17:42  |  Allen 22/08/06
  136.   To #82 Josef 17:44  |  Imad 22/08/06
  137.   Paul Freedman 17:50  |  Mark Lincoln 22/08/06
  138.   To open eyes 17:50  |  DW 22/08/06
  139.   No one afraid of Hezb. violations 17:58  |  Pablo B 22/08/06
  140.   To JACK 18:19  |  Imad 22/08/06
  141.   #116 18:46  |  JayUK 22/08/06
  142.   dw #138 18:50  |  open eyes 22/08/06
  143.   Antisemitsm! Ism!Schism 18:51  |  Tom 22/08/06
  144.   Antisemitsm! Ism!Schism #2 18:54  |  Tom 22/08/06
  145.   allen #135 i am puzzled 18:57  |  open eyes 22/08/06
  146.   Fertility rates 18:59  |  Tom 22/08/06
  147.   lincoln #137 not relevant to present circumstances 19:05  |  open eyes 22/08/06
  148.   3 USE APPROPRIETEAND CREDIBLE FORCE" 19:09  |  jean marie 22/08/06
  149.   #139 19:16  |  Allen 22/08/06
  150.   #145 19:31  |  Allen 22/08/06
  151.   #134 FIRST US LIBERTY IS RIGHT TO LIVE 19:34  |  US Citizen 22/08/06
  152.   #149 Allen 19:52  |  DW 22/08/06
  153.   #143 Real anti-semitism 19:59  |  JayUK 22/08/06
  154.   EU Anti-semite 20:17  |  Jay 22/08/06
  155.   Send in the clowns.... 20:34  |  Blogowitz 22/08/06
  156.   To 73# Paolo Ortenzi: learn to read 20:58  |  Alessandro 22/08/06
  157.   To all who think we owe the US for freeing us from the nazi`s 21:02  |  Jeroen 22/08/06
  158.   @155 Blogowitz and his clowns 21:06  |  Jeroen 22/08/06
  159.   #149, 152 Allen and DW - Why Hezb not disarmed yet 21:07  |  Pablo B 22/08/06
  160.   #152 21:14  |  Allen 22/08/06
  161.   @103 Jack 21:17  |  Jeroen 22/08/06
  162.   #8 21:19  |  Allen 22/08/06
  163.   to 154 21:21  |  Andi 22/08/06
  164.   Alessandro: learn to write 21:22  |  Paolo Ortenzi 22/08/06
  165.   #159 21:32  |  Allen 22/08/06
  166.   @154 Jay in Cleveland 21:40  |  Jeroen 22/08/06
  167.   UNIFIL started weak in 1978 by Israeli demands 21:57  |  Pablo B 22/08/06
  168.   #151 US Citizen - more on liberties 22:13  |  Bor de Wolf 22/08/06
  169.   LEBANON DOES NOT NEED UN OBSERVERS 22:14  |  Peacemaker 22/08/06
  170.   #160 Resolution 1559 22:24  |  DW 22/08/06
  171.   Bor de Wolf - US liberties 22:24  |  Mark Lincoln 22/08/06
  172.   #160 Allen - enforcement of 1559 suspended for 30 days 22:29  |  Pablo B 22/08/06
  173.   #167 22:59  |  Allen 22/08/06
  174.   #168 23:14  |  Allen 22/08/06
  175.   to Hannah from Canada 23:42  |  neighbor from US 22/08/06
  176.   #169 Mark Lincoln - Bill of Rights 23:47  |  Bor de Wolf 22/08/06
  177.   Italy & France 23:49  |  Central European 22/08/06
  178.   reply to 8 00:09  |  Sergio 23/08/06
  179.   #170 00:17  |  Allen 23/08/06
  180.   Dutch naval support reconsidered 00:22  |  Bor de Wolf 23/08/06
  181.   Indonesian and Malayan troops 00:25  |  Bor de Wolf 23/08/06
  182.   GRATEFUL HUMANS 00:37  |  scott 23/08/06
  183.   #170dw-verbal gymnastics 00:44  |  open eyes 23/08/06
  184.   Troops should be on the other part of the frontier!! 00:48  |  Houcine 23/08/06
  185.   For Hateful Hannah 00:50  |  Brant 23/08/06
  186.   Avrum alias ricchione forzaitaliota 00:55  |  capsula 23/08/06
  187.   To Bor de Wolf 01:06  |  Terry Mathis 23/08/06
  188.   #187 Terry Mathis - Indonesian troops 01:32  |  Bor de Wolf 23/08/06
  189.   #179 Allan - Section 10 calls for imp. of 1559 after 30 days 01:57  |  Pablo B 23/08/06
  190.   #179 02:09  |  DW 23/08/06
  191.   Bor de Wolf 02:44  |  Gina 23/08/06
  192.   Kisses Hannah (wink) 02:51  |  Captian Obvious 23/08/06
  193.   And the EU wonders why Washington ignores them 03:00  |  Captian Obvious 23/08/06
  194.   UN FAILED FOR SO MANY YEARS 03:34  |  Loyal Lebanese 23/08/06
  195.   UN FAILED THEIR MISSION AS PEACEKEEPERS. 04:10  |  Lebanese 23/08/06
  196.   Now here`s an idea! 06:33  |  Voice of Reason 23/08/06
  197.   #75, Etc. US Citizen--The TRUTH...NOT Your Delusions/Dreams! - 1 08:41  |  Proud Pal Defender 23/08/06
  198.   #75, Etc. US Citizen--The TRUTH...NOT Your Delusions/Dreams! - 2 08:59  |  Proud Pal Defender 23/08/06
  199.   To Bor de Wolf 09:55  |  Terry Mathis 23/08/06
  200.   #75, Etc. US Citizen--The TRUTH...NOT Your Delusions/Dreams! - 3 11:54  |  Proud Pal Defender 23/08/06
  201.   #179 12:37  |  DW 23/08/06
  202.   #199 Terry Mathis - Indonesian troops 15:20  |  Bor de Wolf 23/08/06
  203.   #191 Gina, #197 Proud Pal Defender 15:29  |  Bor de Wolf 23/08/06
  204.   Some tips for Bor de Wolf 20:18  |  Tulip 23/08/06
  205.   To Tulip 08:35  |  Terry Mathis 24/08/06
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