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Annan to press Olmert on blockade Annan calls for end to blockade
(40 minutes later)
UN chief Kofi Annan is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to try to bolster peace efforts and press Israel to end its blockade of Lebanon. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has repeated his call for Israel to lift its seven-week-old blockade of Lebanon.
Mr Annan is aiming to strengthen the two-week-old truce that ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah. Speaking after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Mr Annan also called for the unconditional release of Israeli soldiers held in Lebanon.
The two men will discuss the deployment of more UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. The UN chief met Mr Olmert in Jerusalem after visiting Lebanon as part of a regional tour to bolster the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
They will also call for the return of two Israeli soldiers whose capture by Hezbollah militants sparked the war. Talks have also focused on the deployment of UN troops in Lebanon.
The BBC's Jill McGivering in Jerusalem says this will be one of Mr Annan's toughest meetings of his Middle East tour. Mr Annan on Tuesday met the parents of the soldiers, whose capture by Hezbollah triggered the 34-day conflict.
The Israeli prime minister is under pressure at home about his handling of the war and may find it hard to give ground on some key sticking points. The secretary general promised to do "everything in his power" to bring about their release, said Benny Regev, brother of Eldad Regev, one of the missing men.
Mr Annan on Tuesday met the parents of the missing soldiers and told them he would continue to press for their freedom.
The secretary general 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 remain Violations
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 soldiersMr Annan also said Israel had committed most of the violations reported since the truce began.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 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 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 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.
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.