Suleiman: Lebanon not a platform for launching rockets into Israel

Dec 28, 2008, 9:27 GMT

Beirut - Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has called for Lebanon and its sovereignty to be respected and not turned in into a platform for launching rockets into neighbouring Israel, radio reports said on Sunday.

Suleiman made his remarks in a surprise visit to southern Lebanon on Saturday, a day after the army dismantled eight Katyusha rockets set to be fired into northern Israel.

He stressed that this can no longer be tolerated following the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces and United Nations International Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that are working on implementing UN Resolution 1701 which ended 33-days of war between Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah movement and Israel in August 2006.

'Lebanon is an oasis of understanding and not an arena for conflicts and for settling scores,' Suleiman was quoted as saying.

'Lebanon continues to support the righteous Palestinian cause, and in particular the Palestinian right of return to their homes, meaning a rejection for settling them in Lebanon,' Suleiman said.

He called on Israel to respect its international commitments in implementing international resolutions and law.

Meanwhile, UNIFIL troops in southern Lebanon, were in a high state of alert Sunday. Dozens of UN forces were seen patrolling the border between Lebanon and Israel to prevent any violation of the ceasefire between the two countries, UN sources said Sunday.