Lebanon: Arabs urged to break Israeli blockade

Lebanon's parliament speaker on Saturday urged Arab planes and ships to break Israel's air and sea blockade of Lebanon, describing it as a "military aggression." Israel says the restrictions are necessary to prevent Hizbullah from rearming, while Lebanon says they hamper the delivery of food and medical supplies and put a damper on attempts to revive its badly battered economy. During a special session of parliament, speaker Nabih Berri proposed a series of protest actions to draw international attention to the blockade that has continued since cease-fire went into effect Aug. 14, ending the fighting between Hizbullah and Israel. "It is a military aggression that is an attack on national sovereignty and a clear violation of resolution 1701," Berri said referring to the United Nations resolution that opened the way for an end to the 34 days of fighting.