(Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem (L) walks with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Damascus August 31, 2006. Photo: Reuters)

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Visiting UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Thursday stressed the need to preserve a ceasefire in Lebanon, Syria's official SANA news agency reported.

The two sides also called for an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon and a lift of its air and sea blockade imposed since the Jewish state launched massive offensives on Lebanon in mid-July as it constitutes a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Resolution 1701 calls for Israel's withdrawal and authorizes an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese troops take control of southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws.

Although a conflict between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah ended on Aug. 14 under Resolution 1701, Israel has vowed to keep its blockade until a UN peacekeeping force takes control of south Lebanon to guarantee the safety of the Jewish state.

The stance of Syria, a supporter of Hezbollah, was deemed critical to the success of the resolution.

Syria has been accused by the United States and Israel of funneling arms to Hezbollah, a charge denied by Syria.

Syria has also rejected an Israeli demand of deploying the UN peacekeeping forces along the Lebanese-Syrian borderline and threatened to close the border if they were deployed.

Annan and al-Muallem also underlined the importance of the UN's role in achieving a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East in line with Resolutions 242 and 338 and the land-for-peace formula.

Annan arrived here earlier in the day and is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Friday.