U.N. verifies Israeli troop withdrawal from Lebanon

June 18, 2000
Web posted at: 4:21 p.m. EDT (2021 GMT)

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -- The U.N. Security Council, after marathon negotiations, agreed Sunday to endorse Secretary-General Kofi Annan's verification that Israeli troops had pulled out of Lebanon.

But in a nod to Russia, the council also acknowledged there may have been some violations of the border, as Lebanon insists, since Annan made his certification on Friday.

The council's statement was read in an open, formal meeting by its current president, French ambassador Jean-David Levitte. Statements require the consent of all 15 council members.

MESSAGE BOARD Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon

Russia had delayed the council statement since Saturday morning because Lebanon insisted Israelis were still on its soil. Annan, who is due in Beirut on Monday, had threatened to cancel the trip if the council did not support his position.

Israel invaded Lebanon in 1978 and occupied part of southern Lebanon as a buffer zone against guerrilla attacks. It announced its withdrawal on May 24 and Annan and U.N. peacekeepers spent weeks verifying it had done so.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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