Lebanese President Emil Lahoud has warned Israel against escalating its attacks on Lebanon, amid US efforts to calm the situation on the border, reported the Daily Star newspaper.
Israel has threatened to attack Lebanon after Hizbollah captured three Israeli soldiers in the Shabaa Farms. The soldiers were kidnapped Saturday after two Palestinian demonstrators were killed by Israeli gunfire on the border.
"Israel is responsible for the escalation of tension on the Lebanese border. It also bears the full responsibility for any reaction that it may carry out against Lebanon," President Emile Lahoud said on Sunday.
"Lebanon rejects Israel's threats and sees them as a useless means to sort out the new situation, which would not have occurred if Israel responded to UN efforts and demands that Lebanese detainees be released," he said.
"The threats are a clear attempt by Israel to overcome the embarrassment it's facing politically and militarily in the occupied territories.
On Saturday, Lahoud also criticized Israel after its soldiers fatally wounded two Palestinians and wounded about 20 others during a demonstration at Kfar Shouba earlier in the day.
"Israel's threats will lead nowhere as long as the basic problem is not solved," he added in a statement, referring to Israel's steadfast denial of Palestinian refugees' right to return, according to the daily.
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright telephoned Lahoud as well as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq Sharaa, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique in an effort to help curb the rising tension, according to the daily.
"On the Lebanese border we are actively engaged with regional leaders with the goal of restoring calm. We urge leaders in the region to take immediate steps to defuse tension, avoid further escalation of violence, halt provocative acts along the border and restore calm," a US State Department officer said - Albawaba.com
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