Security Council demands immediate release of UN peace-keeper.

• Position: Lt.-Col. William R. Higgins - Includes related articles

The Security Council has demanded the immediate release of LieutenantColonel William R. Higgins, Chief of the UN observer group in Lebanon, who was kidnapped while on duty on 17 February. It also decided that the 5,844-strong UN peace-keeping Force in Lebanon will stay in that country at least through January 1989. Both Council actions, taken on 29 July, were unanimous.

By resolution 618 (1988), the Council condemned the abduction and asked Member States "to use their influence in any way possible" to obtain the release of Lt.-Col. Higgins, a United States national. He was taken from his vehicle by armed men while returning from a meeting with a local leader of the Amal movement in Tyre. A videotape was sent to a Beirut news agency on 23 February, showing Lt.-Col. Higgins reading conditions for his release.

His wife, Robin Higgins, a major in the United States Marine Corps, attended the Council session after meeting with Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuselar.

Council resolution 617 (1988), extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for six months, also reiterates the body's strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon within its internationally recognized boundaries.

The 15-member Council also called on all parties concerned to co-operate fully with UNIFIL so that it could fully carry out its mandate, which is to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore international peace and security, and assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring its effective authority in the area. Mr.Perez de Cu6llar reported no major changes over the last six months in the situation in the area.

The Force has so far been unable to deploy itself to the LebanonIsrael border, as ordered by the Security Council, because Israel maintains "security zone" inside Lebanese territory and has not completely withdrawn its forces.

The new UNIFIL Commander, as of 1 July 1988, is LieutenantGeneral Lars-Eric Wahlgren of Sweden, succeeding LieutenantGeneral Gustav Hagglund of Finland.

A volatile situation

Mr. Perez de Cuellar, in his report (SI20053) to the Council, backed Lebanon's request to retain the blue-helmeted peace-keepers on its territory, despite his feeling that their situation was "very unsatisfactory". The Force, he said, "continues to play an important role in controlling the level of violence in a very volatile situation, which, without it, could quickly escalate into wider...