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Annan to urge Israel to end siege Israel aims to end siege 'soon'
(about 2 hours later)
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has arrived in Israel for 24 hours of talks in which he will press leaders to lift their air and sea blockade of Lebanon. Israel hopes to lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon soon, Defence Minister Amir Peretz has told UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Mr Annan has made clear that he intends to press for an end to the blockade throughout his 24-hour visit to Israel.
He flew to Tel Aviv by helicopter after witnessing the scenes of devastation in south Lebanon wrought during a month of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.He flew to Tel Aviv by helicopter after witnessing the scenes of devastation in south Lebanon wrought during a month of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Mr Annan's regional tour is aimed at bolstering the two-week-old truce.Mr Annan's regional tour is aimed at bolstering the two-week-old truce.
While in Israel, he will have talks with embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other key politicians. Before leaving Lebanon, Mr Annan described the embargo as "a humiliation and an infringement on [Lebanese] their sovereignty".
We need to deal with the lifting of the embargo - sea, land and air - which for the Lebanese is a humiliation and an infringement on their sovereignty. Kofi AnnanUN Secretary General The issue was among the key points raised at his meeting with Mr Peretz, his first with a senior politician after arriving in Israel.
He is also set for a meeting later on Tuesday with the families of the two soldiers whose capture sparked the crisis. Mr Peretz did not specify what conditions would have to be in place before Israel lifted the blockade, but the government has previously made clear its concerns about the possible rearming of Hezbollah would have to be addressed first.
Mr Annan has urged Hezbollah to free the men speedily, but made clear it was not the only outstanding issue to be resolved. Embattled leaders
"We need to resolve the issue of the abducted soldiers very quickly," Mr Annan said before leaving Lebanon for Israel. Mr Annan will have talks on Wednesday with embattled Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who - along with Mr Peretz - has been heavily criticised over the way the military action was conducted.
"We need to deal with the lifting of the embargo - sea, land and air - which for the Lebanese is a humiliation and an infringement on their sovereignty." Kofi Annan met families of the captured Israeli soldiers
Israel has previously made clear it will not lift the blockade until its concerns about the possible rearming of Hezbollah have been addressed. He also held a meeting on Tuesday with the families of the two soldiers whose capture sparked the crisis.
Unusual visit Mr Annan has urged Hezbollah to free the men speedily.
The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says that it is highly unusual to see the UN chief in Israel - with several Security Council resolutions outstanding against it - and many Israelis view the organisation with suspicion.The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says that it is highly unusual to see the UN chief in Israel - with several Security Council resolutions outstanding against it - and many Israelis view the organisation with suspicion.
But put simply, Israel currently needs the UN, he says.But put simply, Israel currently needs the UN, he says.
Mr Olmert's only hope of regaining public support is a secure northern border - and that can only happen through the UN force, our correspondent says.Mr Olmert's only hope of regaining public support is a secure northern border - and that can only happen through the UN force, our correspondent says.
UN TROOP PLEDGES France - leadership and 2,000 troopsItaly - 2,500-3,000 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 probesUN TROOP PLEDGES France - leadership and 2,000 troopsItaly - 2,500-3,000 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
Before leaving Lebanon for Israel, Mr Annan met Lebanese leaders to discuss the force, which is to be expanded from 2,000 to 15,000.Before leaving Lebanon for Israel, Mr Annan met Lebanese leaders to discuss the force, which is to be expanded from 2,000 to 15,000.
He later flew by helicopter from Beirut to the UN peacekeepers' headquarters in the southern port of Naqoura, in an area still occupied by Israeli troops and tanks.He later flew by helicopter from Beirut to the UN peacekeepers' headquarters in the southern port of Naqoura, in an area still occupied by Israeli troops and tanks.
There he reviewed an honour guard of UN troops on the lawn of the white-walled UN compound.There he reviewed an honour guard of UN troops on the lawn of the white-walled UN compound.
After about two-and-a-half hours, Mr Annan set off on an airborne tour of some of the areas in southern Lebanon most heavily bombarded by Israel during the 34-day conflict.After about two-and-a-half hours, Mr Annan set off on an airborne tour of some of the areas in southern Lebanon most heavily bombarded by Israel during the 34-day conflict.
After visiting Israel, Mr Annan will travel on to Iran and Syria, countries with close links to Hezbollah.After visiting Israel, Mr Annan will travel on to Iran and Syria, countries with close links to Hezbollah.