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Hezbollah Leader Regrets Kidnapping that Led to War with Israel

27 August 2006

Hassan Nasrallah
Hassan Nasrallah

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah says he regrets the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers that sparked more than a month of warfare with Israel.

Nasrallah told Lebanese television Sunday if he had known the kidnapping would have led to such a war, he would not do it again.

He also said Italy and the United Nations have shown interest in taking part in possible talks on a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah seized the two Israeli soldiers during a cross-border raid July 12. The raid led to 34 days of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah fighters and widespread destruction in Lebanon.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is to visit Beirut Monday. The United Nations plans to expand its 2,000-strong force in southern Lebanon to 15,000 soldiers.

Italy is to contribute up to 3,000 soldiers to the U.N. force.

Meanwhile, Israel says its forces have uncovered a Hezbollah bunker in southern Lebanon close to the Israeli border town of Rosh Hanikra. Israeli military officials say rocket launching materials were among the items found in the bunker.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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