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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| UN 'to mediate in soldiers row' | UN 'to mediate in soldiers row' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says Israel and Hezbollah have accepted his offer to mediate in the dispute over two captured Israeli soldiers. | UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says Israel and Hezbollah have accepted his offer to mediate in the dispute over two captured Israeli soldiers. |
| Hezbollah seized the soldiers during a cross-border raid in July, triggering the recent conflict with Israel. | Hezbollah seized the soldiers during a cross-border raid in July, triggering the recent conflict with Israel. |
| The group has called for an exchange of prisoners with Israel. | The group has called for an exchange of prisoners with Israel. |
| Israel has repeated its view that the soldiers must be freed unconditionally and has said the UN will assist, rather than mediate, towards this end. | Israel has repeated its view that the soldiers must be freed unconditionally and has said the UN will assist, rather than mediate, towards this end. |
| An Israeli spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC that Israel viewed the continued detention of the two soldiers as a violation of the ceasefire that ended the fighting, and expected the UN to facilitate their unconditional release. | |
| The BBC's Jill McGivering in Jerusalem says it is politically awkward for Israel to endorse the idea that the UN is brokering negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah. | |
| Israel's public position is that it will not negotiate with Hezbollah, which it regards as a terrorist group. | Israel's public position is that it will not negotiate with Hezbollah, which it regards as a terrorist group. |
| However, our correspondent says many Israelis accept that a deal - of the kind struck over prisoners in the past - is likely. | However, our correspondent says many Israelis accept that a deal - of the kind struck over prisoners in the past - is likely. |
| UN resolution | UN resolution |
| A special mediator will be appointed but Mr Annan intends to keep his or her name, and the negotiations, secret. | A special mediator will be appointed but Mr Annan intends to keep his or her name, and the negotiations, secret. |
| Many areas are in ruins following the conflict | Many areas are in ruins following the conflict |
| Mr Annan's spokesman said both parties had asked for mediation and that he had agreed "to play a role". | Mr Annan's spokesman said both parties had asked for mediation and that he had agreed "to play a role". |
| Mr Annan, his spokesman said, "has not only received a green light from the Israelis but they have also given him a contact point". | Mr Annan, his spokesman said, "has not only received a green light from the Israelis but they have also given him a contact point". |
| But the Israeli government said Mr Annan's announcement was not in line with its position on the prisoners. | But the Israeli government said Mr Annan's announcement was not in line with its position on the prisoners. |
| "A mediator is not needed," an official told the Reuters news agency. | "A mediator is not needed," an official told the Reuters news agency. |
| "The UN resolution determines that soldiers will be released unconditionally. The UN secretary general will assist - and not mediate." | "The UN resolution determines that soldiers will be released unconditionally. The UN secretary general will assist - and not mediate." |
| In August, the UN Security Council passed a resolution backing the ceasefire after the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah. | In August, the UN Security Council passed a resolution backing the ceasefire after the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah. |
| Resolution 1701 called for "a full cessation of hostilities", and for UN and Lebanese troops to replace Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. | Resolution 1701 called for "a full cessation of hostilities", and for UN and Lebanese troops to replace Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. |
| Public pressure | Public pressure |
| Speaking at a news conference in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Mr Annan said: "Both parties have accepted the good offices of the secretary general to help resolve this problem." | Speaking at a news conference in the Saudi city of Jeddah, Mr Annan said: "Both parties have accepted the good offices of the secretary general to help resolve this problem." |
| He added that he would not name the mediator because he wanted him or her to work "discreetly". | He added that he would not name the mediator because he wanted him or her to work "discreetly". |
| Other potential mediators to secure the release of the Israeli soldiers have included US civil-rights campaigner Jesse Jackson, and the head of German intelligence. | Other potential mediators to secure the release of the Israeli soldiers have included US civil-rights campaigner Jesse Jackson, and the head of German intelligence. |
| Two years ago, German-led negotiations brokered a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. | Two years ago, German-led negotiations brokered a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. |
| Mr Annan has left open the possibility that the negotiations might also include a third Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. | Mr Annan has left open the possibility that the negotiations might also include a third Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. |
| Cpl Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants in June. | Cpl Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants in June. |
| Egyptian diplomats have been working for his release, but without success. | Egyptian diplomats have been working for his release, but without success. |