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Israel demands Syria curb fighters

JERUSALEM: Israel said on Wednesday that to ensure the success of peace talks Syria must rein in Lebanese guerrillas who on Tuesday killed their first Israeli soldier in five months.

The guerrillas, from the Iranian-backed "Party of God" or Hizbollah, are leading a war of attrition to oust troops that Israel says must occupy south Lebanon to prevent cross-border attacks.

Rafael Zangwill, 24, was killed when an anti-tank missile slammed into his outpost. He was the first Israeli soldier to die in Lebanon clashes since August.

"It's impossible to exempt Syria for if it truly wants the talks to succeed and not to fail, it must prevent every act that could cause the situation to deteriorate," Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel's Army Radio.

Last month Israel and Syria revived long-stalled talks that reached another impasse on Tuesday. The two sides are discussing peace along with Syria's demand for the return of the Golan Heights which Israel captured at war 33 years ago.

Sneh, who is second only to Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ehud Barak in the ministry, said Iran was pushing Hizbollah and other "terrorist organisations" to do all they could to torpedo peace moves.

Syria decided at the last minute not to send Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara to a third round of the U.S.-hosted talks with Barak on January 19, prompting U.S. officials to set the meetings with experts.

"Peace with Syria can be completed in 2000. It may take four or eight months, maybe 10, but it can be completed," he said.-Reuters