New York - The United Nations Security Council last night gave the green light for a redeployment of UN peacekeepers along Lebanon's border with Israel by endorsing official UN verification of Israel's troop withdrawal from Lebanon.
But the council's statement, after marathon weekend negotiations, noted that Israel may have violated Lebanese territory since Secretary-General Kofi Annan and UN peacekeepers officially certified the withdrawal on Friday.
Lebanon still insists Israel has manpower and fortifications on its soil, prompting Russia to block any council action on Mr Annan's verification until compromise language was inserted.