New York, August 27, SPA --The United Nations Security Council today renewed the mandate of its peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon for another year and called on parties in conflict in the region to abide by the ceasefire, according to dpa. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), with more than 12,000military and civilian personnel, will remain in southern Lebanonuntil August 31, 2010, to continue monitoring the ceasefire betweenHezbollah and Israel. The ceasefire was ordered by the council in 2006, ending the briefwar in the region. Lebanon has also deployed thousands of militarytroops in the south to implement the ceasefire and disarm themilitias. The council called on both sides to respect the cessation ofhostilities and the blue line in its entirety. The line is anartificial border between Lebanon and Israel.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/695838