US expects Beirut to disarm Hezbollah

WASHINGTON: The White House said on Wednesday that it would ultimately be up to the Lebanese government, with UN backing, to make sure that Hezbollah is disarmed and that the process would "take some time."         

"The Lebanese armed forces are still preparing to begin to move south," spokesman Tony Snow told reporters amid questions about the implementation of a ceasefire between the Shiite militia group and Israel.        

"It is going to be their job eventually to make sure that Hezbollah is disarmed and is no longer functioning as an independent militia. And we expect that to happen, but it's going to take some time," said Snow.          

Asked whether Washington was confident that Beirut would take the necessary steps, Snow replied: "The general answer is yes, that the Lebanese government understands the importance of making sure that you don't have what amounts to a de facto competitor, in the form of Hezbollah, operating independently."