Lebanon calls on Syria to reduce arms smuggling across shared border
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora urged Syria on Thursday to step up its efforts to prevent arms smuggling into Lebanon, echoing a request made by the United Nations in June after it investigated security along the two countries' shared border.
The UN resolution that ended the Second Lebanon War between Israel and Hizbullah banned weapon transfers to the Iranian- and Syrian-backed terror group, but the Lebanese and Israeli governments have criticized alleged violations by Syria.
"We've always expressed the necessity for serious border control and suitable efforts by our brothers in Syria to control these borders," said Saniora, following a meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo. "The continuation of the (current) situation is subjecting Lebanon to the illegal smuggling of more goods, weapons and individuals."
The US and Israel have repeatedly accused Iran and Syria of supplying Hezbollah advanced weapons across Syria's border with Lebanon - allegations that Damascus has rejected.