UN Council votes unanimously to end Israeli-Lebanese fighting

United Nations, Aug 12 (UNI) The Security Council voted last night to halt the ongoing conflict between Lebanon and Israel, adopting a resolution that calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The resolution also calls for the deployment of Lebanese troops and an expanded UN peacekeeping presence across southern Lebanon along with the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the same region.

In a unanimous vote, cast after days of intense diplomacy with Secretary-General Kofi Annan pushing for action, the 15-member Council called for Hezbollah to stop all attacks immediately and for Israelto cease ''all offensive military operations''.

Welcoming the Lebanese government's plan to deploy 15,000 troops across the south of the country as Israel withdraws behind the Blue Line ''at the earliest'' the Council backed the simultaneous deployment of a UN force with an enhanced mandate, equipment and scope of operation.

The expanded UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will be anthorised to have a maximum of 15,000 peacekeepers and its mandate has been extended by 12 months until August next year.

The mission will be tasked with the monitoring of the cessation of hostilities,which will to ensure humanitarian access to civilians and the safe return of displaced persons, and supporting the Lebanese armed forces as they deploy in the south andenforce their responsibilities under the resolution.

The Council said it has reserved the right to make further enhancementsto UNIFIL's mandate in a resolution later.

Underlining its desire ''to help secure a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution to the conflict'' the Council urged Israel and Lebanon towork towards these goals while respecting several principles, including: * Respect for the Blue Line; * Ensuring the area between the Blue Line and the Litani River in southern Lebanon is free of any armed personnel and weapons other than those of the Lebanese armed forces and UNIFIL; and * Full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords, as well as resolutions 1559 and 1680, that require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon.

The text stressed the importance of not just ending the violence, but alsothe causes that gave rise to the current crisis, including ''the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers''.

It said the Council, ''mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of prisoners'', encourages the efforts aimed at settling the issue of the hundreds of Lebanese prisoners detained in Israel.

Council members also emphasized how vital it is for the Lebanese government to be able to extend its authority across the country's territory through the deployment of its armed forces.

The resolution urged member states to consider contributing to the expanded UNIFIL force while calling on the international community to offer financial and humanitarian aid to the Lebanese people, and to help displaced persons return safely to the country.

The secretary-general was asked to develop proposals within the next month on several issues, including the delineation of Lebanon's border and the Shebaa farms area.

More than 1,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Lebanon and northern Israel, and many more injured, since fighting broke out after Hizbollah captured two Israeli soldiers on July 12.

Almost a quarter of Lebanon's population has been forced to flee homes.

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