The Egyptian foreign minister has stressed the importance of immediately lifting the Israeli siege on Lebanon without having to wait till the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is all there.

Ahmed Abul-Gheit, in press statements here Thursday, said UN resolution 1701 called for the unconditional opening of Lebanese ports and airports.

It is just inconceivable that Israel would continue to hinder naval and air navigation and tie up the movement of individuals from and to Lebanon, at a time when the world community forces are united to reconstruct the country and revive its economy, said the Egyptian top diplomat.

He wondered how this could happen with all the restrictions Israel imposes on Lebanon's external trade.

Abul-Gheit refused Israel's claims on associating putting an end of the siege to the implementation of a para of resolution 1701 banning weapon imports to any party inside Lebanon but the Lebanese government.

The Security Council has not entitled Israel with that job, the FM said.

It is countries exporting weapons that are to shoulder such responsibility, together with the Lebanese government, which controls national ports and airports, he added.