Lebanese uncover weapons in south

BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 26 (UPI) -- The Lebanese army said its forces had arrested several individuals in southern Lebanon and uncovered a large weapons cache.

The Lebanese army said in a brief release on its Web site that it had arrested 41 people in connection with a variety of violations during patrols in southern Lebanon.

The release said the operations were part of an ongoing campaign in the south. Earlier operations in the city of Aley uncovered a similar weapons cache in connection with the arrest of 22 suspects.

The patrols come as the Lebanese army earlier this week received a shipment of a micro-unmanned aerial vehicle, the 4.5-pound RQ-11 Raven, from the United States as part of a Washington aid package.

Lebanon also received several light utility vehicles for military use from the United States on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department said through its embassy in Lebanon that it has granted $1.5 million to the Mines Advisory Group for mine abatement in the south.

"The presence of conventional weapons following the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has impeded post-conflict recovery," an embassy statement said. "MAG's project is critical to restoring access to land for agricultural development and infrastructure rehabilitation and development."

The MAG effort is expect to clear some 168 acres of land in eight communities in southern Lebanon.