Sleiman: “Israeli” espionage violates UN Resolution 1701

Lebanon's president Michel Sleiman says "Israel's" spying activities in his country are a clear violation of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for peace between Lebanon and the "Israeli" entity.

Sleiman told reporters late Tuesday during his state visit to Spain, "There is a difference between spying carried out by people who have been detected and detained and "Israeli" detectors and spying gears which have been found during the last week."

""Israel" routinely violates Lebanese air space, which is also a violation of Resolution 1701," he added.

More than 70 people have been arrested this year in Lebanon on suspicion of spying for "Israel".

Suleiman stated that the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Forces in Southern Lebanon) troops can only leave if "Israel" withdraws its forces from three locations in the south of Lebanon, which, he said, it is occupying in another violation of UN Resolution 1701.

Suleiman met with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos during his three-day visit to Spain, which wraps up on Wednesday in Barcelona.