Posted on 08/04/2006 10:35:45 AM PDT by tessalu
CAIRO, Aug 4, 2006 (AFP) - Arab foreign ministers will hold an extraordinary meeting Monday in Beirut to support Lebanon, Arab League number two Ahmed Ben Helli told AFP Friday.
"The meeting of Arab foreign ministers will take place next Monday in Beirut, it will be a follow-up of the session which took place in Cairo on July 15," the deputy secretary general of the pan-Arab body said.
Israeli warplanes pounded areas north and south of Beirut on Friday, killing at least 28 people, as part of the military offensive against Lebanon launched following the July 12 capture of two Israeli soldiers by the Hezbollah militia.
"We are holding this meeting in Beirut to express solidarity with Lebanon," the official added.
Ben Helli said Arab League chief Amr Mussa was expected in Beirut on Sunday to prepare the meeting and hold talks with Lebanese officials on the crisis.
In the meeting they held three days after the start of the military confrontation, Arab foreign ministers had admitted their impotence and Mussa had declared the Middle East peace process "dead".
The idea of holding an extraordinary meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in the war-torn country was initially floated by Saudi Arabia.
Permanent representatives at the Cairo-based organisation have been discussing the possibility of holding an extraordinary summit at the level of heads of state but the 22 members have so far failed to reach an agreement.
Arab countries have been divided on the stand to take since Israel launched its onslaught, with the more moderate regimes refusing to rally behind the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement despite vocal criticism of Israel's assault.
According to Lebanese officials, more than 900 people have been killed, mainly civilians, in Israel's devastating land, sea and air offensive.
France and the United States were still locked in intense negotiations Friday over the wording of a United Nations Security Council resolution for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.-AFP
Should make for an interesting touch down on those cratered runways.
Just when you thought Lebanon's cultural IQ couldn't go any lower, look what happens!
The Legion of Losers get together in Beirut.
"The Lord will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel."
Amen!
Israel: Find out where they're staying with the Hezbollah terrorists and wipe'em out.
I would suggest that they stay in the northern areas of Beirut and not venture too far south...
(In my best Mr. Rogers voice) Can you say "target-rich environment?"
elsewhere in fantasyland:
France says winning argument over Lebanon peace
03 Aug 2006 11:19:40 GMT
Source: Reuters
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03897824.htm
"First of all within the European Union. Then at the level of the Lebanese government ... and it's making headway in the United Nations, at the Security Council of the United Nations."
Douste-Blazy said all 25 EU member states had signed Thursday's statement, including Britain and Germany who argue any ceasefire must be sustainable. That line is viewed by critics as a green light for Israel to go on bombing Hizbollah.
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