THE US Secretary of State, Mr Warren Christopher, said the four key points of the ceasefire were:
1. "Today's understandings are written out and they were worked out in detailed discussions with Israel and Lebanon and in direct consultation with Syria. As such they should prove more enduring and less susceptible to misinterpretation [than a previous 1993 accord]."
2. "These new understandings explicitly rule out attacks on Israel by Katyusha rockets or any other kind of weapons. Similarly Israel undertakes not to fire weapons at civilians or civilian targets in Lebanon."
3. "The use of civilian populated areas as launching grounds for attacks is explicitly prohibited."
4. "The understandings provide for the establishment of a monitoring group that will monitor application of the understandings and handle complaints. This group will consist of the US, France, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. We are also creating a consultative group to include the European Union, Russia and other interested parties, for the specific purpose of assisting in the reconstruction of Lebanon."