EU and UN demand soldier release

Beirut: The United Nations has called for Hezbollah to release two Israeli soldiers it captured on Wednesday and urged both sides to exercise restraint.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's personal representative to south Lebanon, Gier Pederson has met with Lebanese Prime Fouad
Siniora.

"I call on Hezbollah to release the soldiers," he said, before asking "all parties to exercise maximum restraint and
avoid any further escalation."

The European Union has also demanded the immediate release of the two soldiers captured in a cross border raid.

Spokeswoman Emma Udwin said the EU "unreservedly" condemned the incident, addding "We're extremely concerned."

She added that both sides should respect the Blue Line border which was drawn up by the UN after the withdrawal of Israeli forces in southern Lebanon in 2000.