International Response

Annan urges Hizbollah to release Israeli captives

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-13 13:50

UNITED NATIONS -- The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday condemned Lebanon's militant group Hizbollah's attacks across the Blue Line, and called for release of Israeli captives.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Annan said that this violent act is a blatant breach of Security Council resolutions, and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the Israeli captives.

"This incident, and subsequent developments, which endanger an already volatile region, demonstrates once again how urgent it is that the Lebanese government extends its control over all Lebanese territory and prevents such attacks across the Blue Line," the secretary-general observed.

Meanwhile, he called on all concerned to exercise maximum restraint at this time to avoid any further escalation, stressing that "all should respect fully their obligations under international humanitarian law."

Annan also appealed to leaders in the region and beyond to do their utmost to contain this conflict by obtaining the release of the soldiers and pressing for restraint.

Clashes broke out early Wednesday between Hizbollah militias and Israeli army at border area in south Lebanon shortly after several rockets fired from Lebanon into northern Israel.

The clashes left two Lebanese and seven Israeli soldiers killed, while Hizbollah seized two Israeli soldiers and demanded Israel to release prisoners in its jails and guarantee their safe return, according to media reports here.