Italy hands over UN Lebanon navy patrol to Germany

BEIRUT, Oct 15 (Reuters) Italy today handed over to Germany command of an international naval force patrolling Lebanon's coastline to prevent arms smuggling, two months after a war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas ended.

Israel had imposed an eight-week sea blockade on Lebanon during the war and lifted it on September 8, handing control of the Lebanese coastline to the international navy force.

''Our mission in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is to support the Lebanese government in securing its maritime border against the illegal inflow of arms and related materials,'' German Navy Rear Admiral Andreas Krause said.

The resolution, which led to a truce on August 14, calls for 15,000 U N troops to join a similar number from the Lebanese army in the south of the country.

The new contingent, headed by Germany, in line with a Lebanese request to the United Nations, will operate ships from countries including Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Sweden and Turkey, the Italian navy said in a statement.

The war was sparked when Hezbollah guerrillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12.

REUTERS SY BS1801