Israel finally lifted its eight-week air blockade of Lebanon yesterday, removing an important barrier to the country´s postwar reconstruction. But at the last minute Jerusalem ann-ounced it was delaying removing the sea embargo, saying it first wanted international naval vessels to begin monitoring Lebanon´s coastline.

Mark Regev, Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, said: "Unfortunately, the international presence is not yet ready to enforce the sea embargo. When the internationals are ready to enforce the arms embargo on the sea, we will be ready to lift the blockade."

A Lebanese official said the government had been in contact with the United Nations and was told there were "logistical issues", but it expected the embargo to be lifted soon.

Lebanon says the blockade is costing the nation tens of millions of dollars a day and restricted the import of goods - many of which would come through the port - hampering efforts to reconstruct the country following Israel´s bombardment, which destroyed thousands of buildings, as well as roads, bridges and factories.

Israel imposed the blockade after the conflict between Israel and Hizbollah erupted on July 12. The fighting ended with an August 14 UN- brokered ceasefire but Israel refused to lift the embargo until it was satisfied enough foreign forces were deployed to prevent Hizbollah rearming.

After a flurry of diplomatic activity and international pressure, it was agreed that French, Italian, Greek and British ships could patrol Lebanon´s coast until a German task force arrives. Italian and French ships are already off Lebanon´s coast but details of the naval force and its mandate still had to be worked out.

In Israel, the families of the two soldiers whose July 12 capture by Hizbollah triggered the fighting, complained that removing the blockade weakened Jerusalem´s negotiating leverage to secure their freedom.

At Beirut´s port and airport, staff were hoping for a resumption of normal business. The first ship had been expected to dock around 9pm last night, while airport officials were gearing up for more flights.

The loss of business has been huge. Normally, the airport would expect 15,000 to 16,000 arrivals daily in the peak summer months of July and August, and 120 flights. That was expected to increase by 20 per cent this year. But instead the airport found itself the target of Israeli bombs, damaging its three runways and taxiways, said Hamdi Chaouk, director general of civil aviation.

Mr Chaouk told the Financial Times that all but one hole had been repaired and he was confident that business would shortly reach normal levels, describing the airport as the "gate of Lebanon".

"It´s a big issue, especially the airport, it´s like telling people their country is closed and there are no communications with the rest of the world," he said. "It´s like you have taken a sick person out of the emergency room."

He added that airport security was at international standards, saying there would be no foreign monitoring at the airport. "The Germans, British and Americans; everybody came here and found there was nothing to be done," he said. (© Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2006. 09/08/06)