Warning sirens in Israel caused by false alarm

JERUSALEM, Aug 17 (Reuters) Warning sirens sounded in northern Israel today for the first time since a ceasefire went into effect with Lebanese Hizbollah guerrillas, but media reports said it was a false alarm.

The army said it had no reports of rocket strikes. Israel Radio called it a false alarm, and Army Radio said it was apparently the result of a malfunction of the warning system.

Reuters DKB BS1319