WASHINGTON - The United States is worried about tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border and asked all parties to cease fire along the so-called blue line, a spokesman said Friday.
"The United States is deeply concerned about the recent violence along the blue line," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.
"We call on all parties to immediately cease all attacks and to exercise calm and restraint."
For the first time since January, Israeli military aircraft have raided Lebanese territory after clashes on the ground between Israeli soldiers and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon.
"This is an especially sensitive and critical time for the Lebanese people, who will be voting in parliamentary elections beginning on May 29," Boucher said. The elections come after Syrian forces left Lebanon in late April.
"This opportunity for reaffirming democracy in Lebanon must not be undermined by militias pursuing their own agendas," he said.
"These incidents highlight the urgent need for full and immediate compliance by all parties with UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1583.
"All militias in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, must disarm and disband, and the Lebanese government must extend and exercise its sole and exclusive control over all of Lebanese territory," Boucher said.
05/13/2005 20:32 GMT