Lebanon Rejects U.N. Assessment of Israeli Pullout

In a setback for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Lebanon on Friday rejected the U.N.’s verification of the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, saying Israel still controls some Lebanese territory.

Annan said earlier Friday at U.N. headquarters that the Israeli withdrawal is complete. That announcement was intended to clear the way for U.N. troops to move into the border area and help Lebanese forces restore peace and regain authority in the region.

Annan, on his way to the Middle East, believed when he left U.N. headquarters that Lebanon had agreed to respect the world body’s decision about the Israeli withdrawal, said Annan’s Mideast envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen.

But shortly after Annan spoke, Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss said Israel still holds Lebanese soil.

“With deep regret, it appeared by Friday evening that Israel has not yet withdrawn from all Lebanese territory,” Hoss said in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

He said Lebanese officers working with the U.N. team inspecting the Lebanese-Israeli border had found “there are still several Israeli military outposts inside the Lebanese border.”