Fadlallah said that the resistance and Lebanese Army would defy any Israeli offensive, "and UNIFIL is also called upon to deter Israeli attacks."

The MP urged UNIFIL not to surrender to US pressure, which he said "is trying to politicize all decisions."

At a morning meeting in Tyre, representatives of various UN entities briefed Pedersen on the progress of recovery work in the area.

"I am here to listen to concerns so that we may find a way to enhance the effectiveness of our assistance."

Pedersen said he was pleased to hear unanimous support for UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and for UNIFIL in conversations with area residents.

"UNIFIL is here to assist people and the international community will always support Southerners," he said.

Humayed praised the "strong and historical" relationship between residents of the South and UNIFIL.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Humayed said that "Lebanon is abiding by Resolution 1701 but Israel is violating our airspace, land and sea."

Fadlallah echoed Humayed, saying Southerners and international troops maintain a "strong" relationship.

"This relation will always be positive and based on mutual cooperation as long as 1701 is respected," he said.

Pedersen said his meeting with UNIFIL Commander General Claudio Graziano in Naqoura focused on the issues of landmines and relations between international troops and residents of the South.

Pederson visited key UNIFIL positions and met with members of the Italian and Spanish contingents.

In Bint Jbeil, he was received by Liberation and Development MP Ayyoub Humayed, Loyalty to the Resistance MP Hassan Fadlallah, Bint Jbeil Mayor Ali Bazzi and mayors and mukhtars of neighboring regions.

They held a meeting at Bint Jbeil municipality offices to assess the progress of UN reconstruction projects in the area since the end of the summer 2006 war with Israel.

"I have come to the South to see with my own eyes how the Lebanese and the international community have joined forces in rebuilding homes and infrastructure," Pedersen said during a stop in Bint Jbeil.

***UN Assured that Troops 'Will Never' be Attacked***

Envoy reports promise from lebanese officials.

Lebanese officials have promised the United Nations peacekeeping force in the South that it would not come under any attack, the UN's special coordinator for Lebanon said Friday. Speaking to The Daily Star during a tour of villages in South Lebanon on Friday, Geir Pedersen said that officials in both Beirut and the South have promised UNIFIL - and especially the Spanish and French contingents - that they "will never come under attack."

He did not specify by whom.

Last month, Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr said that he had been receiving intelligence reports of threats by Al-Qaeda against the UNIFIL troops and that he was monitoring the situation closely.

Pedersen toured the South on Friday, visiting UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura before heading to Bint Jbeil and Tyre and walking through the towns.

It was the third meeting between Williams and Fneish, who was one of six ministers to resign in November 2006.

Williams said Fneish has raised the issue of unexploded ordnance in South Lebanon, particularly land mines and cluster bombs, and the need to clear such munitions quickly and efficiently.

Williams also said that Israeli overflights are "violations of Lebanese sovereignty."


- Edited by the English division Of Wa3ad.org.

"The resolution has worked well. We had one bad incident on February 7. We can't afford another," said Williams, referring to an exchange of fire between the Lebanese and Israeli armies across the UN-demarcated Blue Line. The skirmish had erupted after the Lebanese Army responded to an attempt by an Israeli bulldozer to enter Lebanese territory.

A UN investigation of the incident said both sides were at fault. The clash prompted a campaign to clearly re-mark the Blue Line to prevent future cross-border incidents.

"I had a very good meeting with Minister Fneish," said Williams. "We discussed all the issues that come under Security Council resolution 1701."