Lebanese Hezbollah (Party of God) has expressed its rejection to attempts to revise UN Security Council Resolution 1701 with a view to "expanding the role" of the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the Voice of Lebanon radio reported Saturday.

"UNIFIL's role was limited to south Lebanon and it must remain there," a Hezbollah leader was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity.

His comments came after media reports said that international peacekeepers were taking up positions at Beirut International Airport and in Lebanese territorial waters to play a direct role in search and inspection operations.

Meanwhile, Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also told the daily Al Akhbar Saturday that there were no foreign civilians or non-civilians anywhere outside the areas specified in Resolution 1701.

According to local media, German customs and police experts surveyed the airport area Saturday in advance of the arrival of technical equipment to be used in tightening security at the airport.

UN Resolution 1701, which halted the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah conflict, unanimously passed on Aug. 11 and gave the authorization to UNIFIL to expand from its 2,000 troops to up to 15,000 soldiers.

Source: Xinhua