Lebanese minister: army readying to enter south

Lebanon's communications minister told French radio Monday that the Lebanese army was preparing to cross the Litani River within two or three days, despite uncertainty about a future UN force for the region. "The Lebanese army is readying itself along the Litani to cross the river in 48 or 72 hours," Marwan Hamade said on Europe-1 radio. It will then be flanked by "the first contingents of an international force," he added, likely from France, Turkey, Spain and Italy. He did not give a timeframe.