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Report: Paris Expects More Southern Skirmishes Not Welcomed by Syria

Paris expects more skirmishes between residents of the south and U.N. peacekeepers despite a Security Council statement to allow the forces to move freely, an informed security source told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.
"Tension in the south would increase because all factors are there: They are the international tribunal, continued smuggling of arms to Hizbullah and deteriorating Lebanese political life," the source said in remarks published Friday.
Last week, a statement by council members "strongly deplored the recent incidents involving UNIFIL peacekeepers which took place in southern Lebanon on June 29, July 3 and July 4."

The Security Council members said they "call on all parties to ensure that the freedom of movement of UNIFIL remains respected in conformity with its mandate and its rules of engagement."

"The members of the Security Council also call on all parties to abide scrupulously by their obligation to respect the safety of UNIFIL and other United Nations personnel," the statement added.

France believes that Syria's alleged arming of Hizbullah does not contradict with the presence of international forces in southern Lebanon although the weapons of the Shiite group are inexistent in the area south of the Litani river where UNIFIL is deployed, the source said.

He ruled out that Damascus was at ease to the skirmishes in the south and said Syria does not favor the anti-France campaign there because its sees UNIFIL as beneficial in case of a new Israeli attack on Lebanon.