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Sea blockade of Lebanon 'to end' UN says Lebanon sea blockade over
(20 minutes later)
Israel has said its naval blockade of Lebanon will end "within hours" as a UN flotilla began patrolling the coast. The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon has said Israel has lifted its sea blockade of the country.
Israel imposed a sea and air blockade in July at the start of its conflict with Hezbollah fighters. A UN naval force has taken over patrolling Lebanese waters, said a spokesman for UN force leader Maj-Gen Alain Pellegrini.
It lifted the air blockade on Thursday but delayed the sea embargo until a sufficient UN naval force was in place. Israel has not yet confirmed lifting the blockade, which it imposed in July at the start of its conflict with Hezbollah fighters.
The blockade has hampered Lebanon's recovery but relatives of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah have said it should stay till they are free. Israel lifted its air blockade on Thursday but delayed the sea embargo.
Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, said: "The final co-ordinations are now going through and we are hopeful that within hours the Israeli ships will begin to depart." It said a sufficient UN naval force had to be in place.
The blockade has hampered Lebanon's recovery but relatives of two Israeli soldiers captured and still held by Hezbollah have said it should remain until they are released.
Control question
Israel is co-ordinating the handover to the UN forces under France's Maj-Gen Pellegrini.
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said an Italian admiral would assume initial control of the patrolling force, adding: "I think the blockade is ending, air and sea."
Italy is providing 2,500 troops to the UN's expanded force in Lebanon - the largest single contingent.
An Israeli official said there had been a delay in lifting the sea blockade as it was not clear who was taking control.
A German naval force is expected to take over at a later stage.
About 3,250 international troops are now in Lebanon under the UN banner, and UN officials say that figure could reach 5,000 troops next week.
Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah ended on 14 August after the UN passed Resolution 1701 which called for a ceasefire and security arrangements for Israel's northern border.
But Israel kept up the blockade of Lebanese sea and air ports.
Lebanon estimates the country has been losing $30m-50m a day in trade because of the blockade - money desperately needed to help the rebuilding.
Relatives of the two Israeli soldiers have expressed concerns over lifting the blockade.
Shlomo Goldwasser, father of one of the soldiers, said: "The blockade was a way to pressure Hezbollah, but there's no blockade any more. I'm not even angry. It just makes me even more sad."
More than 1,100 Lebanese and about 160 Israelis died in the conflict, sparked by the capture of the two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah in a cross-border raid.