Lebanon accuses Israel of abducting citizen

BEIRUT, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese army announced Sunday that Israeli soldiers have abducted a Lebanese citizen in southern Lebanon near its border with Israel.

"An Israeli patrol abducted at 13:45 (11:45 GMT) the Lebanese citizen Rabih Mohammad Zahra in the vicinity of Boustra Farm near Kfarshouba," said the army in a statement.

It added that "the Lebanese army and the UN peacekeepers ( UNIFIL) are holding talks to release the citizen immediately."

Earlier, the country's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that "Israeli Commandos have abducted a 17-year old Lebanese shepherd in the vicinity of Boustra Farm near Kfarshouba. "

The NNA added that the shepherd who was tending his flock of sheep in the area was taken away by the Israelis for interrogation at their Zibdeen military outpost, on the borders with Israel.

Local news site Now Lebanon quoted Lebanese Member of Parliament Qassem Hashem as saying that "the kidnapping of Rabih Mohammad Zahra constitutes a new Israeli violation of resolution 1701."

The UN resolution 1701 was implemented three years ago after a devastating war between Israel and Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah.

The UN interim forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were also deployed in south Lebanon to conduct peacekeeping missions and monitor the implementation of the resolution.

Lebanon accuses Israel of intruding its airspace on a daily basis, saying it is a violation of resolution 1701.