Israeli pullout talks start this week, Lebanon says

Lebanese Prime Minister Shafik Wazzan said talks on a pullout of Israeli troops from Lebanon are expected to begin between the two countries this week.

He said the talks would take place in the framework of a military commission formed last summer to discuss Israel's withdrawal from Beirut.

In Jerusalem, Israeli officials responded by saying the talks could start next week if Lebanon agreed to upgrade the two delegations. (Israel wants the teams headed by senior political representatives, preferably at the ministerial level.)