ME truce 'very fragile,' warns Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the situation in Lebanon as "very fragile" on Monday as a truce between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas entered its second week.
Speaking in Berlin, Merkel said it was vital to get United Nations peacekeeping troops to the area quickly to prevent a rekindling of the conflict, in which nearly 1,200 people in Lebanon and 157 Israelis died.
Italy emerged as the potential leader of such troops following telephone talks between Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and his opposite numbers in Beirut and Jerusalem.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, due to host senior UN envoys in Jerusalem, spoke to Prodi late on Sunday and said he would be happy to see the Italians in charge.
"Italy should lead the international force and send troops to also oversee the Lebanon-Syria border crossings," a statement from Olmert's office said.
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