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Annan to press Olmert on blockade Annan to press Olmert on blockade
(about 2 hours later)
UN chief Kofi Annan is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who he is expected to press for the lifting of Israel's blockade of Lebanon. UN chief Kofi Annan is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to try to bolster peace efforts and press for the Israel to end its blockade of Lebanon.
Mr Annan is on a tour to try to bolster peace efforts after the 34-day conflict across the Israeli-Lebanese border. Mr Annan is trying to strengthen the two-week-old truce that ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah.
Mr Olmert will call for the return of two Israeli troops thought to be being held in Lebanon, his spokeswoman said. The two men will discuss the deployment of more UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.
They will also call for the return of two Israeli soldiers whose capture by Hezbollah militants sparked the war.
Mr Annan on Tuesday met the parents of the soldiers, telling them he would continue to press for their freedom.Mr Annan on Tuesday met the parents of the soldiers, telling them he would continue to press for their freedom.
Mr Annan has urged Hezbollah to free the two captives speedily, and promised to do "everything in his power" to bring about their release, said Benny Regev, brother of Eldad Regev, one of the captured men. Mr Annan has urged Hezbollah to free the two men speedily, and promised to do "everything in his power" to bring about their release, said Benny Regev, brother of Eldad Regev, one of the captured men.
Mr Regev also said the UN chief had promised to push for "signs of life" of the captives.Mr Regev also said the UN chief had promised to push for "signs of life" of the captives.
Troops remainTroops remain
Mr Annan arrived in Israel from Lebanon on Tuesday, and told Defence Minister Amir Peretz the "humiliating" blockade of Lebanon should be lifted as soon as possible.Mr Annan arrived in Israel from Lebanon on Tuesday, and told Defence Minister Amir Peretz the "humiliating" blockade of Lebanon should be lifted as soon as possible.
Israel has previously insisted that its concerns about the possible rearming of Hezbollah must be addressed first.Israel has previously insisted that its concerns about the possible rearming of Hezbollah must be addressed first.
The UN chief met families of the captured Israeli soldiers The UN chief met families of the captured Israeli soldiersMr Annan also said Israel had committed most of the violations reported since the truce began.
Mr Annan also said Israel had committed most of the violations reported in the two-week-old truce with Hezbollah. Mr Peretz said he told Mr Annan that Israeli troops would remain in southern 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's regional tour is aimed at bolstering the fragile ceasefire which ended more than a month of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
He flew to Tel Aviv by helicopter after witnessing the scenes of devastation in south Lebanon wrought during the conflict.
Mr Peretz said told the secretary-general that Israeli troops would remain in southern 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.
Unusual visit The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says 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.
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.