Ban in 1559 Report: Agreement on Electoral Law Will Help Lebanon Face Spread of Syrian Crisis

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon noted that Lebanon is passing a critical phase due to the “dangerous challenges” caused by the Syrian crisis, reported the daily An Nahar Saturday.

He said that an agreement over a the electoral process, in line with the constitution, will act as a main factor in protecting Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian crisis.

He made his remarks in his half year report on Lebanon's implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1559.

He added that the Lebanese powers' failure to reach an agreement over security appointments and a parliamentary electoral law will weaken Lebanon's ability to confront current challenges.

The agreement over the electoral process will also help achieve stability and security throughout Lebanon, added Ban.

He therefore renewed his call on all political leaderships to adhere to the Baabda Declaration, which emphasizes Lebanon's policy of disassociation from regional developments.

Moreover, Ban urged Hizbullah to refrain from taking part in any fighting in Lebanon or Syria in line with the Taef Accord and resolution 1559.

He also called on the Lebanese government and armed forces to take all necessary measures to prevent the party from obtaining arms outside of the authority of the state, also in line with the U.N. Security Council resolution.

Syrian rebels have repeatedly accused Hizbullah of fighting alongside the Syrian regime in the country's ongoing conflict.

Syria's main opposition National Coalition called on Lebanon on Monday to control its frontiers, after rebels said they fired across the border in retaliation against Hizbullah.

Hizbullah has systematically denied sending fighters into Syria, although its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah acknowledged in October 2012 that party members had fought Syrian rebels but said they were acting as individuals and not under the group's direction.

Meanwhile, residents of the Bekaa valley told AFP on Monday that the bodies of five Hizbullah fighters killed in Syria were brought back on Sunday and Monday for burial.

"Yesterday, we buried a Hizbullah martyr, Assaad Ali Assaad, who was killed in Syria some days ago," said a resident of Khraybeh in the Bekaa.

A security source in southern Lebanon meanwhile told AFP on condition of anonymity that four other fighters from the region had also been killed in Syria.