A Lebanese shepherd thought to have been kidnapped in southern Lebanon on Thursday had in fact been hiding from Israeli soldier fire, reported LBCI television.

It said that Mohammed Hashem had hidden when Israeli troops near the Shebaa region had opened fire.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday appointed Italian general Luciano Portolano to head the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Portolano will succeed his countryman and fellow general Paolo Serra, who is leaving the post on July 24 after two-and-a-half years.

Visiting Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny announced on Monday an additional 2-million-euro assistance to refugees in Lebanon, Premier Tammam Salam's press office said.

It said Kenny told Salam during a meeting at the Grand Serail, which lasted around two hours, that Ireland would grant the UNHCR and UNRWA 2 million euros.

An Israeli bulldozer crossed the U.N.-drawn Blue Line and entered Lebanese territories in the area of Hounine-al-Abbad, the state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The bulldozer stayed there for more than 20 minutes, it said.

The International Support Group for Lebanon has urged Lebanon to hold the presidential elections on time and free of foreign meddling, the U.N. announced on Monday.

Speaking to the press after meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday, U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly said that “the presidential election process is now entering a crucial phase, with less than two weeks remaining until May 25” when President Michel Suleiman's six-year term expires.

Speaker Nabih Berri threatened on Monday to suspend the tripartite meetings held at al-Naqoura crossing between the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon and senior Lebanese and Israeli officials if the Jewish state continues violating the country's sovereignty.

“Those who are keen to safeguard Lebanon's sovereignty and independence and those who are in a hurry to get rid of the resistance should take into consideration first the Israeli violations,” Berri said in remarks published in As Safir newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that he would discuss with the commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Maj.-Gen. Paolo Serra, alleged Israeli violations of the U.N.-drawn Blue Line in the South.

Israel suddenly claimed that the Blue Line passes in the middle of Wazzani river and that the owners of resorts there can't clean part of the river, Berri told As Safir daily in remarks published on Tuesday.

Three soldiers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon were injured on Saturday after their military vehicle overturned in the southern Tyre District, the state-run National News Agency reported.

According to NNA, the three peacekeepers are from the Malaysian contingent and were injured in the town of Maarakeh.

Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti was on Tuesday holding talks with Lebanese officials on the support to the Lebanese army and ways to improve its capabilities.

“This is my first visit abroad since my appointment as defense minister,” the state-run National News Agency quoted her as saying.

The Israeli army planted on Monday a surveillance device along the technical fence to spy on Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The wireless device was installed near a post for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon on the Adaisseh road as Israeli warplanes overflew the area, NNA said.