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Annan to see Lebanon destruction Annan to see Lebanon destruction
(about 1 hour later)
UN chief Kofi Annan is to visit south Lebanon and Israel as part of an effort to boost the fragile truce between Israel and Hezbollah. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is to see first-hand the destruction wrought in south Lebanon during the four-week conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Mr Annan will visit UN peacekeeping headquarters before moving on to Israel to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Mr Annan will visit the port of Naqoura, home to the UN peacekeeping force, which is to be significantly expanded under the UN-backed ceasefire.
UN forces will be reinforced by 2,500 Italian troops, the vanguard of which sets sail for Lebanon on Tuesday. The UN chief will travel on to Israel, as he continues his regional tour to try to bolster the two-week old truce.
Meanwhile, Mr Olmert has announced two inquiries into the handling of the war - though neither will be independent. On Monday, Mr Annan was jeered by Hezbollah supporters in south Beirut.
The UN secretary-general will visit UN troops at their base in the southern coastal town of Naqoura, in an area still occupied by Israeli troops and tanks. The secretary general said he would urge the Israeli government to lift its blockade of Lebanon's ports and airports, imposed at the start of the conflict.
He will then take an airborne tour over some of the areas in southern Lebanon most heavily bombarded by Israel during the 34-day conflict. He also called on Hezbollah to free two Israeli soldiers, whose capture on 12 July triggered the fighting.
'Risk remains''Risk remains'
During a visit to Beirut on Monday, Mr Annan called on Israel to lift its blockade of Lebanon and urged Hezbollah to free two captured Israeli soldiers. Mr Annan will visit UN troops at their base in Naqoura, in an area still occupied by Israeli troops and tanks.
Kofi Annan was jeered by Hezbollah supporters Kofi Annan was jeered by Hezbollah supportersHe will then take an airborne tour over some of the areas in southern Lebanon most heavily bombarded by Israel during the 34-day conflict.
All sides in the conflict had to implement the UN resolution which brought an end to the fighting, he said, otherwise he feared the risk of a renewal of hostilities was "great". Mr Annan, who arrived in Lebanon on Monday, said all sides in the conflict had to implement the UN resolution which ended the conflict, otherwise, he said, he feared the risk of renewed hostilities would be "great".
While visiting southern Beirut, Mr Annan was heckled by Hezbollah supporters.
The UN chief said "lots of work" remained to be done, but that the UN and international community were determined to work "very, very intensively" to ensure Resolution 1701 was implemented.The UN chief said "lots of work" remained to be done, but that the UN and international community were determined to work "very, very intensively" to ensure Resolution 1701 was implemented.
Italian warships will begin transporting the largest national contingent in the new expanded UN force on Tuesday. Italian warships, meanwhile, will begin transporting the largest national contingent in the new expanded UN force on Tuesday.
The Italian contribution is expected to include engineers, marines, special forces and bomb disposal experts. The 2,500-strong Italian contribution is expected to include engineers, marines, special forces and bomb disposal experts.
UN TROOP PLEDGES France - leadership and 2,000 troopsItaly - 2,000 - 3,000 troopsBangladesh - two battalions (up to 2,000 troops)Malaysia - one battalionSpain - one mechanised battalionIndonesia - one battalion, an engineering companyNepal - one battalionDenmark - at least two shipsPoland - 500 troopsFinland - 250 troopsBelgium - 302 troops, later rising to 392Germany - maritime and border patrols but no combat troopsNorway - 100 soldiers Crisis in facts and figures Olmert orders probes Initially they will serve under French command, but Italy will take over the 15,000-strong UN force in February.UN TROOP PLEDGES France - leadership and 2,000 troopsItaly - 2,000 - 3,000 troopsBangladesh - two battalions (up to 2,000 troops)Malaysia - one battalionSpain - one mechanised battalionIndonesia - one battalion, an engineering companyNepal - one battalionDenmark - at least two shipsPoland - 500 troopsFinland - 250 troopsBelgium - 302 troops, later rising to 392Germany - maritime and border patrols but no combat troopsNorway - 100 soldiers Crisis in facts and figures Olmert orders probes Initially they will serve under French command, but Italy will take over the 15,000-strong UN force in February.
Mr Annan will go on to meet Mr Olmert in Israel, before travelling to Iran and Syria, countries with close links to Hezbollah, to call for their co-operation. Mr Annan will go on to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, before travelling to Iran and Syria, countries with close links to Hezbollah, to call for their co-operation.
Israel is looking for better guarantees that Hezbollah will not rearm and has said its blockade against Lebanon will remain in place until an arms embargo is implemented against Hezbollah.Israel is looking for better guarantees that Hezbollah will not rearm and has said its blockade against Lebanon will remain in place until an arms embargo is implemented against Hezbollah.
Mr Olmert has announced that two governmental committees of inquiry will be set up into the handling of the conflict in Lebanon - one dealing with political matters, the other military affairs.Mr Olmert has announced that two governmental committees of inquiry will be set up into the handling of the conflict in Lebanon - one dealing with political matters, the other military affairs.
This falls short of demands for an independent state commission which would have had the power to recommend that top officials step down, the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Jerusalem reports.This falls short of demands for an independent state commission which would have had the power to recommend that top officials step down, the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Jerusalem reports.
Mr Olmert's critics are likely to accuse him of trying to dodge criticism, but he says there is no time for a full blown investigation.Mr Olmert's critics are likely to accuse him of trying to dodge criticism, but he says there is no time for a full blown investigation.
Speaking in Haifa on Monday, he admitted to "failures" during the offensive, but defended his decision to launch the campaign.Speaking in Haifa on Monday, he admitted to "failures" during the offensive, but defended his decision to launch the campaign.