Arab peacekeeping force proposed

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Partners in the Middle East should work to form a regional peacekeeping force to protect mutual interests, Arab leaders said in Beirut.

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa in a speech at the American University of Beirut called for a regional peacekeeping force to protect common interests, Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reports Friday.

"There is a serious lack of security in the region, therefore we need to think of establishing a regional security system," he said. "Arab consultations on such a system should have started by now."

Regional tensions are escalating over bitter exchanges between Lebanon and Israel over border security concerns. Israel said it is justified to maintain a defensive posture to contain Hezbollah, while Beirut complains Israel is a persistent military threat.

On tensions with Israel, the secretary-general said his organization stood behind Lebanon in the face of a potential Israeli threat.

"The Arab League is monitoring the situation closely," he said. "We shall stand firm behind Lebanon and will not accept any justification for an aggression against this important country."