The United Nations Security Council today renewed the mandate of its peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon for another year and called on parties in conflict in the region to abide by the ceasefire, according to dpa. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with more than 12,000 military and civilian personnel, will remain in southern Lebanon until August 31, 2010, to continue monitoring the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. The ceasefire was ordered by the council in 2006, ending the brief war in the region. Lebanon has also deployed thousands of military troops in the south to implement the ceasefire and disarm the militias. The council called on both sides to respect the cessation of hostilities and the blue line in its entirety. The line is an artificial border between Lebanon and Israel.
