Lebanese man killed handling “Israeli” cluster bomb

Source: AFP, 31-10-2006
BAALBECK, Lebanon - A man was killed and two other people injured in eastern Lebanon when part of an "Israeli" cluster bomb exploded in the man`s hands.
Truck driver Hafez Khalil Abbas, 35, had spotted a bomblet outside a school in the Rass el-Ain quarter of Baalbeck. It exploded after he picked it up, killing him instantly and hurting the other two.
Since the end of this summer`s "Israeli" war on Lebanon, some 20 civilians have been killed and dozens wounded by remnants of cluster bombs dropped by "Israeli" warplanes during the conflict.
The Haaretz daily has reported that "Israel" dropped at least 1.2 million bomblets during the 34-day conflict.
UN envoy raps "Israeli" flights over Lebanon.
The U.N. envoy to Lebanon expressed serious concerns at "Israeli" flights over Beirut on Tuesday and urged the Jewish (Zionist) state to cease its violations of Lebanese airspace.
"The personal representative of the secretary-general, Mr. Geir Pederson, expresses his serious concern at the continuing overflights by "Israel"," a United Nations statement said.
"Israeli" warplanes flew at a low altitude over Beirut, its suburbs and large areas of south Lebanon, witnesses and security sources said.
The Lebanese army said its anti-aircraft guns fired at the planes flying over southern Lebanon.
Pederson said the overflights violated Lebanon`s sovereignty and Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended a 34-day war between "Israel" and Hizbullah fighters in August.
"He is particularly disturbed by the intensive mock air raids that took place over Beirut this morning," the statement said.
"The U.N. renews its call on `Israel` to cease its violations of Lebanese sovereignty and calls on all parties to respect and implement resolution 1701."