MIDDLE EAST: Lebanon's prime minister yesterday urged the US to "put pressure on Israel" to end the air and sea blockade that has persisted since the end of the war 10 days ago.
Fouad Siniora said American help would be appreciated for reconstruction in the wake of the 34-day war between Lebanese Hizbullah militiamen and the Israeli military, which devastated key infrastructure and thousands of homes.
"The US can do more on the level of financial assistance, and the US can do much more on the level of political assistance to Lebanon," Mr Siniora said.
The prime minister welcomed President Bush's promise this week of a post-war aid package worth $230 million (€180m). "I requested details," Mr Siniora said, adding that Lebanon would continue lobbying US Congress members for "larger assistance".
Gulf Arab governments have made bigger pledges, and more is expected from other international donors. But the US government could help most by persuading its ally, Israel, "to lift the siege" that continues to hinder large-scale relief to war-damaged areas, Mr Siniora said.
Israel's prime minister Ehud Olmert said the blockade would continue until international peacekeepers were positioned at Beirut's airport and along Lebanon's border with Syria. That northeastern border is regarded as the main route of entry for Iranian-supplied weapons used by Hizbullah.
Officials from Mr Siniora's office said the Lebanese government could accept "technical assistance" from unarmed members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, Unifil, to better control the flow of goods from Syria. The existing Unifil troops are thus far deployed only along Lebanon's southern border with Israel.
Bashar al-Assad, president of Syria, has ruled out any UN deployment along the north-eastern border as an "infringement on Lebanese sovereignty".
Syria withdrew from Lebanon last year, but it still exerts leverage through local parties, including Hizbullah, the dominant organisation in Shia Muslim villages and neighbourhoods.
European Union foreign ministers are to discuss possible troop contributions at a meeting tomorrow in Brussels. Mr Siniora said he hoped for a greater commitment from France, which has sent only an additional 200 military engineers, but added that Lebanon "greatly appreciates" Italy's offer to take the lead and send 3,000 troops. The Lebanese government would listen to European concerns about the rules of engagement for the peacekeeping force, he said.
The UN announced yesterday that secretary general Kofi Annan plans a major Middle East trip in the coming days, which will include stops in Israel, Lebanon, Iran and Syria, to help shore up the ceasefire. Mr Annan's trip is aimed at implementing security council resolution 1701, which called for the truce between Israel and Hizbullah.