This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/5296314.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Annan urges Israel to end siege Annan urges Israel to end siege
(about 1 hour later)
UN chief Kofi Annan has used talks in Jerusalem to demand an end to Israel's air and sea blockade of Lebanon.UN chief Kofi Annan has used talks in Jerusalem to demand an end to Israel's air and sea blockade of Lebanon.
Mr Annan, who flew to Israel from a visit to Lebanon, told Defence Minister Amir Peretz the "humiliating" blockade should be lifted as soon as possible.Mr Annan, who flew to Israel from a visit to Lebanon, told Defence Minister Amir Peretz the "humiliating" blockade should be lifted as soon as possible.
Israel has previously made clear its concerns about the possible rearming of Hezbollah must be addressed first.Israel has previously made clear its concerns about the possible rearming of Hezbollah must be addressed first.
Mr Annan also said Israel had committed most of the violations reported in the two-week-old truce with Hezbollah.Mr Annan also said Israel had committed most of the violations reported in the two-week-old truce with Hezbollah.
Earlier, Mr Annan held a meeting with the families of the two soldiers whose capture sparked the crisis, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.
Kofi Annan met families of the captured Israeli soldiers
Mr Annan has urged Hezbollah to free the two captives speedily, and told the relatives that he would continue to press for their freedom.
Mr Annan had promised to do "everything in his power" to bring about their release, said Benny Regev, Eldad Regev's brother.
Mr Regev also said the UN chief had promised to push for "signs of life" of the captives.
Relatives of a third soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Palestinian militants in an earlier incident near the Gaza Strip, also attended the meeting.
Fragile ceasefire
Mr Annan's regional tour is aimed at bolstering the fragile ceasefire which ended more than a month of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
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 GeneralWe 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
Mr Annan's regional tour is aimed at bolstering the fragile ceasefire. He flew to Tel Aviv by helicopter after witnessing the scenes of devastation in south Lebanon wrought during the conflict.
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.
Before leaving Lebanon, Mr Annan described Israel's continuing embargo as "a humiliation and an infringement on [Lebanese] sovereignty".Before leaving Lebanon, Mr Annan described Israel's continuing embargo as "a humiliation and an infringement on [Lebanese] sovereignty".
The issue was among the key points raised at his meeting with Mr Peretz, his first with a senior politician after arriving in Israel.The issue was among the key points raised at his meeting with Mr Peretz, his first with a senior politician after arriving in Israel.
'Weapons transfers'
Afterwards, Mr Peretz said he had emphasised to Mr Annan the issue of the transfer of weapons from Syria to Hezbollah, and Israel's concerns about Iran posing a threat.Afterwards, Mr Peretz said he had emphasised to Mr Annan the issue of the transfer of weapons from Syria to Hezbollah, and Israel's concerns about Iran posing a threat.
He also said Israeli troops would remain in Lebanon for "several weeks, no longer than that", and would pull out once the UN's expanded peace force was on the ground in "reasonable" numbers.He also said Israeli troops would remain in Lebanon for "several weeks, no longer than that", and would pull out once the UN's expanded peace force was on the ground in "reasonable" numbers.
Mr Annan said the force would number 5,000 "relatively quickly", to clear the way for the Israeli pullout.Mr Annan said the force would number 5,000 "relatively quickly", to clear the way for the Israeli pullout.
Kofi Annan met families of the captured Israeli soldiers
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.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.
He also held a meeting on Tuesday with the families of the two soldiers whose capture sparked the crisis.
Mr Annan has urged Hezbollah to free the men speedily, and told the relatives that he would continue to press for their freedom.
Mr Annan had promised to do "everything in his power" to bring about the release of the boys, said Benny Regev, whose brother Eldad is among those being held.
Unusual visitUnusual visit
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.
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
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.
Before leaving Lebanon for Israel, Mr Annan met Lebanese leaders to discuss the force, which is to be expanded from 2,000 to a total of 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 a total of 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.