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Tanzania calls for immediate ceasefire in Lebanon
2006-08-01 09:35:40
By Guardian Reporter
Tanzania has called for immediate ceasefire in the battle betweem Israel and Hizbollah militias in south Lebanon, to avoid further deaths and suffering of women and children.
In a statement issued in Dar es Salaam yesteday, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Dr Asha Rose Migiro urged the international community to intervene to end bloodshed in Middle East.
’’Innocent civilians have been killed and some have been displaced. We call upon the international community, through the UN Security Council to ask both sides to start peace negotiations,’’ says part of the statement.
Dr Migiro said the UN Security Council should call an immergency meeting.
’’The resolution of the emergency meeting should propose the deployment of peace keeping forces, end of hostility and observation of the UN Resolution No. 1559 (2004) that demands the breaking up and disarmament of armed militia groups in Lebanon.
’’Tanzania believes that sustainable peace will be achieved in the Midle East through the implementation of the Road Map between Israel and Palestine, as proposed by the international community, namely the European Union, the United States and Russia, dating back to 2002.
Fighting between Israel and Hizbollah broke out after two Israel soldiers were kidnapped by the militias on July 12, 2006 causing loss of lives and massive destruction of property to both sides.
Hizbollah demanded that the release of the Israel soldiers would only be possible if there was an exchange of prisoners because Israel holds hundreds of Hizbollah fighters.
International pressure for an immediate cease-fire increased after Israel’s bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana on Sunday that killed at least 54 civilians.
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