Annan arrives in Beirut for talks on UN resolution

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan began a Middle East mission in Beirut on Monday aimed at turning a fragile UN truce that halted a 34-day war between Israel and Hizbullah guerrillas into a lasting ceasefire.

"It's a very critical time for Lebanon and I think it's important that I come here myself to discuss with the Lebanese authorities the aftermath of the war," Mr Annan said on arrival.

Mr Annan, who is due in Israel tomorrow, is seeking progress on all the complex issues between Israel, Lebanon and Hizbullah mentioned in Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for an expanded UN peacekeeping force to cement the August 14 truce.

It authorised up to 13,000 troops to join an existing 2,000-strong UNIFIL force to back up 15,000 Lebanese troops in creating a border zone free of Israeli or Hizbullah forces.

The new force's role was a central topic in Mr Annan's talks with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, as was the lifting of an Israeli sea and air blockade in force for nearly seven weeks.

"We expect good to come out of these talks," Mr Siniora told reporters afterwards. "On lifting the blockade, this thing is going to happen, God willing, but not within 24 hours."

Israel says it will keep up the air and sea restrictions until an arms embargo on Hizbullah is enforced. It wants UN troops to guard Lebanon's 375km border with Syria.

"We discussed... the arrival of the international forces and the Israeli withdrawal that must happen quickly," Mr Siniora said.

He said he and Mr Annan had also discussed Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, and the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, claimed by Lebanon but considered by the United Nations to be Syrian.

Plans for the UN force firmed up after Mr Annan met European foreign ministers who on Friday pledged up to 7,000 troops -- enough to ensure the expanded UNIFIL will have a European core.

Turkey agreed in principle to send troops to the UN force, a spokesman in Ankara said on Monday. He gave no figures.

Annan also met Shia Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hizbullah who could play a key role in any negotiations to swap Lebanese prisoners for two Israeli soldiers whose seizure in a cross-border raid on July 12 sparked the war.