France hailed yesterday the beginning of the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, saying it was a "significant step" for the peace in the region.

"We hail first the deployment of the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, approved yesterday (Wednesday) and started this morning at dawn," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau told a news conference.

"It is a significant step to affirm the sovereignty and the authority of the Lebanese state in its territory, in conformity with the UN resolutions," he said.

"The withdrawal started without delay by the Israeli army contributes also to the diminution of the tension in the territory," said the spokesman.

The 15 members of the United Nations Security Council adopted Friday unanimously a resolution calling for the ending of hostilities in Lebanon, which entered into effect on Monday.

The Israeli army has transferred since Wednesday to the UNIFIL half of the zones it occupied in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese government decided to send a 15,000-strong troop to southern Lebanon to take control of the border.