ROME, Aug 31: Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres has told Italy that Israel will begin pulling out troops from southern Lebanon once 5,000 UN peacekeepers arrive, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said on Thursday.

“Shimon Peres confirmed to me that with the arrival of 5,000 members of the UN force in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces will start to withdraw,” Mr Prodi told reporters after meeting Mr Peres in Rome.

Earlier, the UN chief said in Tel Aviv that Israeli leaders had assured him that forces will pull out of southern Lebanon within about 10 days once 5,000 UN troops and 16,000 Lebanese soldiers reach the area.

“I hope that within a week or 10 days we will have the 5,000 troops there and the Israelis will be obliged to withdraw,” he said, adding: “It is very important because at the moment the situation is fragile.”

Standing next to Mr Prodi, Mr Peres did not comment on what the Italian premier had said, but his office later released a statement that said: “Israeli troops will withdraw if the UN troops deploy in every place that ensures the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701.”

Israel’s army says it has already handed over more than two-thirds of the territory it captured in southern Lebanon to the United Nations. Israel began to pull out its troops soon after a truce came into effect.

Italy will lead the UN force in Lebanon starting next year and has committed 3,000 soldiers to help secure the truce.

Mr Peres congratulated Mr Prodi on what he said was Italy’s ‘new image’ in world politics by taking a leading role in the Lebanon crisis.

“I think what Italy has done right now under Prime Minister Prodi was to build a new bridge in the Middle East,” he said.

“I believe that Italy can play an important role in bringing the Palestinians and us together to negotiate.”

When asked about reports that Italy was working behind the scenes to negotiate the release of the two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah, Mr Prodi said Italy was prepared to help, but had not achieved anything so far.

“We are available to do all we can to help this episode come to an end, a happy return of the kidnapped soldiers ... Up to now we have not been able to do anything more, but certainly the readiness is there.”

BLOCKADE: In his Tel Aviv statement, Mr Annan also said he expected the Israelis to start lifting their air and sea blockade of Lebanon before the 5,000 troops were fully in place.