The United Nations Secretary-General told Israeli television today that the world body would seek to deploy more peacekeepers in Lebanon ‘as quickly as possible.’
Kofi Annan told Israel's Channel 2 he thought the process of meeting the terms of a Security Council resolution passed on Friday for a ceasefire, could take weeks or months.
Meanwhile, the Syrian leader has said a new Middle East has emerged as a result of what he called Hezbollah's victory over Israel in Lebanon.
President Bashar al-Assad was speaking a day after a United Nations-backed ceasefire came into effect in the region.
He told a news conference in Damascus the outcome of the fighting had exposed the United States' plan to reshape the region as ‘an illusion.’
Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers shot five Hezbollah gunmen in two separate confrontations in southern Lebanon today, the Israeli army said. Army spokesmen said they did not know whether any of the gunmen had been killed.
Soldiers shot four gunmen in one clash. In a second incident, troops opened fire on a guerrilla as he came toward them, the spokesmen said. In both cases, the soldiers saw that they had shot the gunmen, they added.
Yesterday, Israeli troops shot five Hezbollah fighters, killing at least one of them, the army said, adding that the soldiers believed they had been under threat.
The Israeli army had said before the ceasefire its troops would stop offensive actions but would defend forces deployed in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese government has said it is proceeding with plans to move up to 15,000 troops to the River Litani in readiness for Israel's withdrawal from the south of the country.
Reports from Israel say Israeli forces will begin withdrawing from southern Lebanon in the next day or two.
Meanwhile, aid agencies say they are surprised at how quickly people have returned to their villages. Roads are blocked as thousands of people make their way back to the south of the country.
Britain's International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, who is visiting the Lebanese capital Beirut, said the country was facing a humanitarian emergency. Aid agencies have warned that at least 100,000 people are homeless.
No decision on Irish troops
No decision has yet being taken about sending Irish peacekeepers to Lebanon.
The United Nations has informally asked if Ireland is willing to be part of a peace mission, probably more than 10,000 strong.
Ireland is one of several countries to have been ‘sounded out’ about their availability, and to enable them to make preliminary preparations.
However, the Department of Defence said this evening that it is expecting further information about the mission from the UN by the end of the week, and no decisions will be taken before then.
