Lebanese president urges full implementation of UN Resolution 1701

BEIRUT, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Suleiman called Thursday for the full implementation of UN Resolution 1701 with no amendments or restrictions.

"The full implementation of Resolution 1701 would reinforce Lebanon's international stand in defending its legal rights and exposing Israel's violations of Lebanese sovereignty," said a statement by the president's press office.

The statement added that the president followed up contacts carried out by Lebanon with members of the UN Security Council prior to its meeting next week.

Lebanon sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, calling on the international body to look into Israel's activities in Kfarshouba, stressing Lebanon's rejection of any change to the rules of engagements under Resolution 1701.

Israel set up two weeks ago an unmanned post on the disputed Kfarshouba hills. Israel's action prompted a group of Lebanese residents in mid-July to enter the area, waving Lebanese and Hezbollah flags. Israel said the incident is a violation of UN Resolution 1701.

UN Resolution 1701 ended the 34-day devastating war in July 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah. According to the resolution, UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were reinforced in the south to assist the Lebanese army and prevent any hostile actions between Hezbollah and Israel.