'Transfer of responsibility' under way: Israel

Jerusalem, Aug 17: The Israeli army said today it had begun ''transferring responsibility'' over southern Lebanon with the deployment of the Lebanese army in the area.

Lebanese troops rolled into southern Lebanon to take control of Hizbollah strongholds along with UN peacekeepers as Israeli forces withdraw after a 34-day war with the guerrillas.

''The process of transferring the responsibility of the areas (has begun),'' an army statement said, citing an agreement with a UN force known as UNIFIL and the Lebanese army.

''The process will be carried out in stages and is conditional on the reinforcement of UNIFIL and the ability of the Lebanese army to take effective control of the area,'' it said.

Witnesses and Lebanese security sources said Lebanese troops began crossing the Litani River, about 20 km from the Israeli border, from several points.

The troops were responding to a UN resolution that ended the violence this week and called on the Lebanese army and an expanded UN force to take full control of the area to stop Hizbollah menacing Israel.

''The Lebanese army has committed to prevent Hizbollah activity in all areas under its control and to operate to distance Hizbollah from the area,'' the Israeli army statement said.

A Lebanese cabinet decision, however, did not mention any withdrawal of Hizbollah's fighters nor the decommissioning of rockets they fired on northern Israel during the conflict.

Nor did the decision say whether Lebanese troops would try to uncover weapons hidden in bunkers and caves in the area.

''The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will continue to employ means aimed at defending our forces present in southern Lebanon and the citizens of Israel, until responsibility over the area is handed over to the Lebanese army and UNIFIL,'' the army's statement said.

''After the handing over of the responsibility, IDF forces will reposition themselves along Israel's internationally recognised border with Lebanon,'' the statement added.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said yesterday the speed of Israel's pullout hinged on the time it took the Lebanese troops and UNIFIL, whose troop numbers are expected to rise from 2,000 to 13,000, to deploy.

REUTERS

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