Britain investigating military kit found by Israel

LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters) Britain said it was investigating reports that British military equipment was being used by Hizbollah guerrillas in Wasia.

A Foreign Office spokesman said the government was seeking more information on whether night-vision equipment, which media reports said was found by Israeli troops in Hezbollah bunkers in southern Lebanon, could have come from or been made in Britain.

''We are seeking more information about the equipment to ascertain whether indeed it is British and if so whether it is subject to export controls,'' the spokesman said.

He said Israel had made no formal complaint, but British and Israeli officials had been in contact over the issue.

The Times newspaper said today that the night-vision equipment found was marked ''made in Britain''.

Britain, which accuses Iran of arming Hizbollah, sold 250 night vision sets to Tehran under a special export licence in 2003. The Foreign Office spokesman said there was nothing to suggest equipment found in Lebanon was part of that shipment.

A week-long truce between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas was holding today as Italy emerged as potential leader of a planned UN force to help keep the peace in southern Lebanon.

REUTERS SK BST0425