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UN: We've cleared half the cluster bombs Israel dropped on Lebanon
By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel, Lebanon, UNIFIL 

The United Nations said on Thursday that it has managed to clear wide swaths of south Lebanon of half of all cluster bombs fired by Israel during the Second Lebanon War two years ago.

In a report released on Thursday, the world body warned that the remaining ordnances still pose a threat to the local population, particulary in the southern Lebanon village of Kafer Sir.

"We've managed to clean up about half of the known cluster munition strike sites in this village. We hope to have the whole village completely cleared by the end of the year," the UN Mine Action Coordination Center of South Lebanon said on Thursday. "This whole village was covered with unexploded cluster munitions. They were on people's rooftops, hanging from trees, even in playgrounds."
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Chris Clark, the head of the center, said 20 people have been killed and 194 have been wounded thus far as a result of the cluster bombs. In total, the UN says its field workers have found and destroyed upwards of 150,000 cluster munitions.

"I'm optimistic about the situation," Clark said. "Our goal is to address the worst of the problem by the end of this year. I don't want even one more civilian to have to fall victim to these horrible weapons. We'll do everything we can to make the area safe and let people resume their normal lives."

UNIFIL: Cease-fire remains intact

Major General Claudio Graziano, the head of UNIFIL, the international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, said during an appearance Thursday at UN headquarters in New York that his soldiers have succeeded in fulfilling their mandate thus far and preserving the cease-fire.

When asked about the smuggling of weapons into Lebanon, Graziano said he could not ensure that the area under his jurisdiction would be impenetrable, though he did add that there is no evidence of arms smuggling nor has there been movement of armed gunmen.

Graziano would not comment on the newly sworn-in Lebanese cabinet whose guidelines state that Hezbollah enjoys the right to "liberate occupied lands," though he did say it was important for Lebanon to carry out its obligations.

The United States expressed anger at the new Lebanese president, Michel Suleiman, and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora for yielding to Hezbollah's demands on various matters.

Israeli defense officials said the new government platform is a worrisome development that attests to Hezbollah's growing strength as well as the continuing disintegration of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Defense officials in Jerusalem believe Hezbollah is seeking a new pretext for prolonging its armed struggle with Israel. One of the possibilities being examined by the Shi'ite organization is attempting to down Israel Air Force planes during their sorties over Lebanon.
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  1.   And another two years to clear rest...?! 00:34  |  Esther 15/08/08
  2.   Were cluster bomb clearings part of 1701? 00:57  |  Great White North 15/08/08
  3.   they have 01:02  |  wh 15/08/08
  4.   All this without any help from the killers who dropped them there 01:11  |  Chanalau, Tova 15/08/08
  5.   RE: Great White North #2 01:20  |  democrat 15/08/08
  6.   #2 It is mentioned in 1701, GWN 02:12  |  Johnboy 15/08/08
  7.   WHEN are they going to clear the ordinance fired by Lebanon ?? 02:32  |  PETER SM 15/08/08
  8.   Chanalau Tova, did Hezbo clear 1000000000 cluster ball bearings? 02:44  |  Dan 15/08/08
  9.   The U.S. and Israel... 02:52  |  Maureen Ann 15/08/08
  10.   Peter SM you are either a propaganda manager or have a low IQ 06:19  |  you know who 15/08/08
  11.   STOP WAISTING MONEY TRYING TO CLEAN UP HIZBULLAH LAND/LEBANON!!! 06:26  |  glenna 15/08/08
  12.   A debt of gratitude 07:36  |  utagawa 15/08/08
  13.   @10.Lebanon startied the war by bombarding civillians in N.Israel 08:38  |  PETER SM 15/08/08
  14.   Collateral Souvenirs from Israel 11:54  |  Victor Leb 15/08/08
  15.   Israel bombarded Lebanon for 8 days before Hizbollah sent first 13:48  |  Ramsey Lawrence 15/08/08
  16.   Don`t you dare twist the truth 20:08  |  Ramsey Lawrence 15/08/08
  17.   Dan 14:31  |  Iceberg 16/08/08
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