Britain is Latest To Evacuate From Lebanon
Britain on Monday was the latest to join the parade of nations to begin procedures to pull its citizens out of the war zone. The British ambassador to Lebanon told the BBC news service on Monday that some 40 nationals had already been evacuated by helicopter. Britain was sending two ships to Lebanon to assist citizens in leaving the area. An additional air evacuation was contemplated as well.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan about the military situation in the north and discussed ways to end the war.
“The blunt reality is that the violence is not going to stop unless we create the conditions for the cessation of violence, said Blair. He said the only way to create those conditions at this point is to deploy international forces.
U.S. and France: Support Israel, Evacuate Citizens
Both the U.S. and France joined voices on Sunday in asserting that Israel has the right of self-defense in the face of ceaseless terror and rocket attacks, even as they both implemented evacuation of their nationals.
United States
The United Nations Security Council rejected a call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon because the U.S. objected to such a call. America used her authority as a permanent Security Council member to push off the Lebanese request.
U.S. President George W. Bush continued it make it clear that Washington stands firmly behind Israel’s military operation in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the American embassy planned to evacuate its citizens, by transport to Cyprus. France also sent a ferry to the island nation to take its nationals out of the war zone.
Two U.S. helicopters also landed at the American embassy in a north Beirut suburb on Sunday to begin the evacuation procedures for their citizens. A statement from the embassy said security teams had arrived in the helicopters to “facilitate the safe departure of Americans who want to leave Lebanon.”
Approximately 25,000 Americans live and/or work in Lebanon. They are not being ordered to leave, but “secure transportation” is being provided for those who wish to go.
France
“Israel must defend itself,” said French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, “and it has the right to do so.” He added, however, that Israel should exercise restraint in dealing with the threat.
“There is an aggressive element in the Middle East,” he said, and that is Hizbullah. As friends of Israel we must advise it to maintain level-headedness and restraint.”
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy added that he was "very concerned about the latest developments on the Israel-Lebanon border." He slammed the attack by Hizbullah on Israeli communities in the north when hostilities broke out.
"I condemn the rocket strikes this morning on the town of Kiryat Shemona, he said last Wednesday morning, after the first attack. “I also condemn the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers and I ask for their immediate and unconditional return," he said.
As France expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself, it also proceeded with the evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon and was careful to support Lebanon as well.
French Support Also for Lebanon
Douste-Blazy followed his words of support of Israel with criticism of the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, and urged both sides to remain calm.
The French Prime Minister was also set to visit Beirut on Monday, according to sources at President Jacques Chirac's office.
Chirac asked Dominique de Villepin to visit Lebanon "to show the French support to the Lebanese people." Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora was to meet with deVillepin, according to AFP news service.
Brazil Joins Nations Evacuating Citizens in Lebanon
Brazilian nationals began over the weekend to leave as well. A Brazilian air force plane was sent in response to a request from more than 50 Brazilian tourists and workers to their government to evacuate them from the area. A government official said he expected to receive more such requests in next few days.
The air force plane was set to pick up the Brazilian nationals in Turkey, according to Brazilian Foreign Ministry spokesman Paulo Gustavo. The Brazilians were traveling by a local Lebanese bus from Beirut to Syria and then to the Turkish city of Adana.
Britain on Monday was the latest to join the parade of nations to begin procedures to pull its citizens out of the war zone. The British ambassador to Lebanon told the BBC news service on Monday that some 40 nationals had already been evacuated by helicopter. Britain was sending two ships to Lebanon to assist citizens in leaving the area. An additional air evacuation was contemplated as well.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan about the military situation in the north and discussed ways to end the war.
“The blunt reality is that the violence is not going to stop unless we create the conditions for the cessation of violence, said Blair. He said the only way to create those conditions at this point is to deploy international forces.
U.S. and France: Support Israel, Evacuate Citizens
Both the U.S. and France joined voices on Sunday in asserting that Israel has the right of self-defense in the face of ceaseless terror and rocket attacks, even as they both implemented evacuation of their nationals.
United States
The United Nations Security Council rejected a call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon because the U.S. objected to such a call. America used her authority as a permanent Security Council member to push off the Lebanese request.
U.S. President George W. Bush continued it make it clear that Washington stands firmly behind Israel’s military operation in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the American embassy planned to evacuate its citizens, by transport to Cyprus. France also sent a ferry to the island nation to take its nationals out of the war zone.
Two U.S. helicopters also landed at the American embassy in a north Beirut suburb on Sunday to begin the evacuation procedures for their citizens. A statement from the embassy said security teams had arrived in the helicopters to “facilitate the safe departure of Americans who want to leave Lebanon.”
Approximately 25,000 Americans live and/or work in Lebanon. They are not being ordered to leave, but “secure transportation” is being provided for those who wish to go.
France
“Israel must defend itself,” said French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, “and it has the right to do so.” He added, however, that Israel should exercise restraint in dealing with the threat.
“There is an aggressive element in the Middle East,” he said, and that is Hizbullah. As friends of Israel we must advise it to maintain level-headedness and restraint.”
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy added that he was "very concerned about the latest developments on the Israel-Lebanon border." He slammed the attack by Hizbullah on Israeli communities in the north when hostilities broke out.
"I condemn the rocket strikes this morning on the town of Kiryat Shemona, he said last Wednesday morning, after the first attack. “I also condemn the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers and I ask for their immediate and unconditional return," he said.
As France expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself, it also proceeded with the evacuation of its citizens from Lebanon and was careful to support Lebanon as well.
French Support Also for Lebanon
Douste-Blazy followed his words of support of Israel with criticism of the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, and urged both sides to remain calm.
The French Prime Minister was also set to visit Beirut on Monday, according to sources at President Jacques Chirac's office.
Chirac asked Dominique de Villepin to visit Lebanon "to show the French support to the Lebanese people." Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora was to meet with deVillepin, according to AFP news service.
Brazil Joins Nations Evacuating Citizens in Lebanon
Brazilian nationals began over the weekend to leave as well. A Brazilian air force plane was sent in response to a request from more than 50 Brazilian tourists and workers to their government to evacuate them from the area. A government official said he expected to receive more such requests in next few days.
The air force plane was set to pick up the Brazilian nationals in Turkey, according to Brazilian Foreign Ministry spokesman Paulo Gustavo. The Brazilians were traveling by a local Lebanese bus from Beirut to Syria and then to the Turkish city of Adana.