UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Wednesday morning that he'll do everything he can to return the captured Israeli soldiers.

Annan, who arrived in Israel on Tuesday afternoon for a two-day visit after the 34-day-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict, made the remarks at a press conference after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Speaking at the press conference, the UN chief called for the full implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1701, unconditional release of the captured Israeli soldiers and lifting Israeli air and sea blockade of Lebanon.

Olmert, for his part, said that he hope the ceasefire will enable Israel to establish new relations with Lebanon.

Israel has been imposing an air and sea blockade in Lebanon since it launched massive attacks there on July 12 after Hezbollah guerillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others in cross-border raids.

The UN Resolution 1701 on ending hostilities in Lebanon, approved by both Israel and Lebanon, calls for Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon and authorizes an increase of the existing UN force there to 15,000 troops to help Lebanese troops take control of southern Lebanon after Israel withdraws.

Source: Xinhua