Italians 'not involved in UNIFIL food trafficking'

(ANSA) - Rome, May 25 - The defence ministry on Wednesday denied press reports that Italian peace-keeping troops were involved in illegal food-trafficking in Lebanon. The ministry said that "having heard from the UN command in Lebanon, investigations are in course and at the moment there is no evidence that the personnel of the Italian military contingent are involved in this affair". Earlier UNIFIL Spokesman Andrea Tenenti said that no evidence had been found so far to back reports that United Nations peacekeepers, including Italian blue helmets, were involved in illegal food-trafficking. "So far there is no evidence to confirm a systematic operation linked to the trafficking of food, and even less the involvement of some members of the contingents," Tenenti said about the reports in Spanish daily El Pais. He added, however, that internal investigations has been running "for some time" and these were continuing.