BEIRUT, Aug 28: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Monday he wanted the two Israeli soldiers whose capture by Hizbollah guerillas sparked a 34-day war with Israel to be released under Red Cross auspices.

Mr Annan urged Israel to lift its six-week-old sea and air blockade of Lebanon ‘immediately’ and said he was highly satisfied with steps taken by the Lebanese government to police its borders.

In Beirut on a Middle East trip to seek a lasting ceasefire, Mr Annan also said he would ask Syria this week to police its border with Lebanon to prevent arms smuggling to Hizbollah.

A Lebanese government source said Mr Annan told the cabinet he would urge Syria to set up diplomatic ties with Lebanon for the first time in the history of the two neighbours.

“It is important that the borders are protected and there are no attempts to rearm,” Mr Annan told a news conference.

“Lebanon has seen too much conflict. There are too many arms in the country. We don’t need any more.”

Mr Annan urged Hizbollah to hand over the captured Israelis.

“I ... renew my call for the abducted soldiers to be freed and as a first step to be transferred under the auspices of the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) either to the government of Lebanon or to a third party,” he said.

Mr Annan warned the relative peace since the Aug 14 truce could still evaporate.—Reuters