The UN Security Council decided on Friday to extend the mandate of UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which was to expire on July 31, until Jan. 31, 2006.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1614 (2005), the Council called upon the government of Lebanon to fully extend its "sole and effective" authority throughout the south, including through the deployment of sufficient numbers of armed and security forces and to exert "control and monopoly over the use of force" on its entire territory.

The Council also condemned all acts of violence across the Blue Line that have resulted in deaths and injuries on both sides, and urged the parties to put an end to these violations and to refrain from any act or provocation that could further escalate tensions.

Source: Xinhua