BEIRUT, December 23. /TASS/. Lebanon’s army is committed to the 60-day truce accord and delays in the deployment of troops to the southern border are blamed on the Israeli side, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said.

"The United States and France must rush Israel to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon within 60 days, as stipulated by the agreement. We insist on settling all the difference immediately to exclude any justification of the Israeli occupation," his office quoted him as saying after taking an inspection trip to the city of Marjayoun in southern Lebanon and meeting with the Lebanese army commander, Joseph Aoun.

Mikati and commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Aroldo Lazaro Saenz visited the city of Khiam. "Seeing the damage done to this city as a result of Israeli raid hurts the heart," he told journalists. "Serious damage was done, a reconstruction plan is needed. We will analyze this matter and will ask the World Bank, European Union and Arab countries to help establish a special fund."

A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon took effect on the morning of November 27 in accordance with the US and French initiative. The agreement provides for the re-establishment of the Lebanese army and state security forces’ control of the country’s territory within 60 days. After that, the Israeli army will be gradually pulled out of Lebanon.