LEBANON: U.S. ANTI-TERRORISM EXPERTS INSPECT BORDER WITH SYRIA

Beirut, 11 April (AKI) - Anti-terrorism experts from the United States have been inspecting part of the Lebanese-Syrian border, a Lebanese news agency reported on Tuesday, but Lebanon's interior minister said he was not aware of the operation. The team of US experts accompanied by Lebanese foreign ministry officials carried out the inspection near Masnaa in the Bekaa Valley, the National News Agency (NNA) said. The inspection came following a request from the Lebanese government as part of its efforts to "boost the country's security," the NNA said in its report.

Asked to comment on the report, interior minister Ahmad Fatfat told Adnkronos International (AKI) that he was not aware of any such inspection. According to NNA the Lebanese authorities are seeking the advice of the US experts to curb the cross-border smuggling of weapons and people.