UN alarmed by Lebanon clashes

United Nations: The UN Security Council expressed deep concern about Tuesday's deadly clashes between Lebanese and Israeli troops along their border and joined UN chief Ban Ki-moon in calling for restraint.

Russia's UN envoy Vitaly Churkin read out a statement on behalf of the council saying that the 15 members expressed "deep concern" and urged the parties to show "utmost restraint..., observe the cessation of hostilities and prevent any further escalation."

Council members also looked forward to the completion of an ongoing investigation by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "with a view to preventing such incidents in the future," Churkin, who chairs the council this month, told reporters.

At the request of Lebanon, which sits on the council, UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy briefed on the latest developments on the Lebanese-Israeli border, where UNIFIL is deployed. But Churkin gave no details of what Le Roy said.

The clashes, which saw Israeli and Lebanese troops exchanging fire along the northernmost section of the border, left three Lebanese soldiers, a journalist and a senior Israeli officer dead, according to sources from both sides.

They marked the deadliest incident along the border since the devastating 2006 war between the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and Israel.

Hezbollah took no part in Tuesday's fighting, which erupted in its stronghold.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is on a visit to Japan, was "concerned" over the clashes and "is calling for maximum restraint," according to his spokesman Martin Nesirky.

The spokesman told a press briefing that UNIFIL was in touch with both sides and urging them to stop fighting and exercise maximum restraint.

"At the moment UNIFIL peacekeepers are trying to ascertain the circumstances of the incident," he added.

Each side blamed the other for causing the fight, with the Lebanese army acknowledging that it fired first.

A statement by the Lebanese army said troops opened fire on the Israelis after "a patrol crossed the technical (border) fence."

Israel's military blamed Lebanon for the fighting.