The Lebanese government has approved a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the conflict with Israel after Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said his group would abide by the ceasefire plan.
By
BBC

Source:
AFP
13 Aug 2006 - 12:00 AM  UPDATED 22 Aug 2013 - 12:18 PM

Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, Lebanese ministers said the decision was unanimous but said there were also "unanimous reservations" because the resolution failed to condemn large-scale destruction by Israel in Lebanon.

Lebanese government members also criticised the resolution for being vague on the issues of Lebanese prisoners in Israeli jails and the Israeli-occupied Shebaa farms, a border area seized by Israel from Syria and now claimed by Lebanon with Syrian approval.

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Nasrallah made a televised address on his group's Al-Manar channel, vowing that he would not stand in the way of the resolution. But he said the resolution was unjust because it held Hezbollah responsible for starting the violence.

Two days after the UN Security Council voted to adopt the ceasefire resolution, Israel has expanded its ground offensive deep into southern Lebanon. Israel's cabinet is expected to formally endors the UN resolution today and says it will only halt its military action after a vote is taken.

Eleven Israeli soldiers were killed and more than 70 wounded in fighting on Saturday.

Israel also confirmed that a helicopter was shot down in southern Lebanon, causing casualties.