LEBANON: UN secretary general Kofi Annan said yesterday he would appoint a secret negotiator to mediate between Israel and Hizbullah for the release of two Israeli soldiers seized in July.
"The two sides have accepted the effort of the secretary general to help solve this problem," Mr Annan told a news conference in Saudi Arabia. "I will appoint a person to work secretly with the two sides . . . I will not announce his name today or tomorrow."
However, an Israeli government official said: "A mediator is not needed. The UN resolution determines that soldiers will be released unconditionally. The UN secretary general will assist and not mediate." Hizbullah gave a cautious response, backing only indirect negotiations to secure a prisoner exchange.
The Israeli official was referring to a UN Security-Council resolution, which calls for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon and the unconditional release of two soldiers captured by Hizbullah in July. The abduction sparked a 34-day-long war between Israel and the armed group.
Hizbullah wants to exchange the soldiers for Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails. Such exchanges have taken place in the past.
Meanwhile, Qatar yesterday became the first Arab country to commit troops to the expanded UN force. The Gulf state, which maintains low-level ties with Israel, said it would contribute 200 to 300 troops and sent a civilian airliner to Beirut despite the Israeli blockade.
The planned deployment, which Israel said it had no problem with, was announced by foreign minister Sheikh Hamad al-Thani during a visit to Doha by Mr Annan.