W House North Lebanon security needed to stop arms

WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (Reuters) As a fragile truce began taking hold in southern Lebanon, the White House said today that security was probably needed in northern Lebanon to stop arms shipments to Hizbollah.

The UN-brokered cessation of hostilities came into effect in a monthlong war between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas, who the United States says are supported by Iran and Syria.

The conflict has killed about 1,100 people in Lebanon and 156 Israelis. Israel says around 530 Hizbollah guerrillas were killed, Hizbollah has acknowledged only about 80 fighters dead.

The UN Security Council resolution calls for an embargo on the supply of arms to Hizbollah and other militia groups in Lebanon. The White House acknowledged that disarming Hizbollah would take time.

''I think, in part, it will require placing on the northern border of Lebanon somebody who is capable of handling security in such a way as to intercept, interrupt and, with any luck, stop the transport into Lebanon of arms from Iran and Syria,'' White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters.

The protection of the northern border was not addressed by the UN resolution, which was reached after tough negotiations at the UN Security Council last week and which calls for the deployment of an international force in southern Lebanon.

''I don't want to be trying to prejudge what people are going to be doing, but it does seem that there is going to be some need to be able to prevent the influx of weapons into the country,'' Snow said.

Washington has consistently blamed Hizbollah for sparking the conflict by capturing two Israeli soldiers. The United States was condemned by Arab nations and many European governments in the early weeks of the war for failing to push for an immediate cease-fire and so effectively giving Israel time to bombard Lebanon.

President George W Bush, who returned to Washington on Sunday after a 10-day working vacation in Texas, spoke with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi about Lebanon today.

''The president thanked the Prime Minister for Italy's willingness to contribute troops to the international force. The president stressed that Iran and Syria must halt their supply of weapons to Hizbollah and respect the sovereignty of Lebanon,'' Snow said.

The United States may contribute forces at some point to help with support or logistics, Snow said.

Bush was meeting with officials from the State Department and the Pentagon today.

REUTERS DKA PM2259