Israel intends to complete a troop withdrawal from Lebanon by the weekend, Defence Minister Amir Peretz said today, confirming a timetable announced by Israel's top general.
"This is our intent, we definitely want to complete it," Mr Peretz said when asked by reporters about comments by army chief Dan Halutz that Israeli forces would quit Lebanon by the eve of the Jewish New Year, which starts on Friday.
"We hope there won't be any mishaps in coordinating with the Lebanese army and the international forces, and that everything will go according to the planned timetable," Mr Peretz added.