Ford backs ceasefire but slams its delay as unacceptable

9.25.22am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Aug 2006

Alliance Party Leader, David Ford

Alliance Party Leader, David Ford, has welcomed beginning of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, and stated that it should have been implemented weeks ago. The UN-brokered ceasefire came into effect at 0500 GMT.

David Ford said: "I am glad that a ceasefire has been called between Hezbollah and Israel, although this move should have been made weeks ago.

"Tony Blair should have acted more quickly, as the introduction of a ceasefire was what most of the wider international community wanted to see as a matter of urgency in the first place.

"Had a ceasefire been called earlier, many lives could have been saved, and tension in the region would not be running as dangerously high as is at the moment."

David Ford concluded: "I hope that the ceasefire holds and that a comprehensive agreement can be reached by Israel, Lebanon and UN, to ensure we do not witness scenes similar to those of the past few weeks again in future."

ENDS