Beirut appeals to Spain for security help

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Spain needs to take a leadership role as the rotating head of the European Union and call on Israel to stop its aggression against Lebanon, Beirut said.

Spanish King Juan Carlos I paid a visit to Beirut to meet with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and other top leaders. Suleiman during an honorary dinner for the visiting monarch at the presidential palace praised the Spanish leadership in the fight against terrorism, Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reports.

Suleiman added, however, that more could be done to persuade Israel to honor its international commitments regarding Lebanon.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which helped broker a cease-fire to a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, calls on Hezbollah to give up its weapons while reminding Israel of its duty to respect Lebanese territory.

Israel is accused of daily violations of Resolution 1701, while Beirut approved a measure in 2009 that lets Hezbollah, now a member of the government, keep its weapons.

Suleiman, meanwhile, praised the monarch for supporting peacekeeping efforts in the region as Spain assumes the leadership of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon.

Madrid holds the rotating presidency of the EU currently.