Emotions as Lebanese return to south

There have been emotional scenes in southern Lebanon, as Lebanese civilians arrived in villages abandoned by the Israeli-backed militia which had occupied them for more than twenty-two years.

As the militia, the South Lebanon Army, pulled out and hundreds of Lebanese poured in, members of families divided by the occupation were re-united -- some meeting for the first time.

Many said they'd been surprised by the departure of the SLA, which has been pulling out of strategic hilltop villages in advance of Israel's declared intention to withdraw from southern Lebanon completely by July the 7th.

Israeli officials have denied reports on Israel television that they're planning to complete the pull-out within two weeks.

But an Israeli government spokesman Moshe Fogel told the BBC the Israeli army was under instructions to be ready to move out at any time. The BBC Jerusalem correspondent says that pressure is mounting in favour of an early withdrawal, as fighting intensifies between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah militia.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service