Monday, July 31 2006 13:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: The United Nations has lodged protests with both Israel and Lebanon for firing in the vicinity of its post, which resulted in injuries to two Indian peacekeepers and caused material damage.

Three Indian peacekeepers have been wounded so far as a result of firing in the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. Five rockets from the Israeli side hit between five to 20 metres of the position in the area of Addaisseh Friday, the UN mission in Lebanon reported.

One rocket exploded in the air above the position injuring two soldiers from the Indian battalion.

"In another incident, one artillery round from the Israeli side impacted directly inside the position in Mays Al Jabal, causing extensive material damage and the collapse of the ammunition shelter, but there were no casualties," it said.

"Early morning, two Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldiers removed and dragged away the protective concertina wire around UN position in the Marun Al Ras area," the mission said in a news release.

The mission also reported that Hizbollah fired rockets from the vicinity of three UN positions in the area of Tibnin, at Tiri and Brashit. They also fired small arms fire from the vicinity of two UN positions in the area of Alma Ash Shab and Al Duhayyra.

"The mission strongly protested all these incidents to the Israeli and Lebanese authorities respectively," the news release said.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, four UN military observers as well as one international staff member and his wife have been killed. While, four Ghanaian soldiers, three Indian soldiers, and one UN military observer have received injuries as a result of firing.