Benny Avni of the New York Sun quotes Kofi Annan in a seeming equation of Israeli soliders with the Taliban. 

"You have to talk with those with the guns to stop shooting, whether they are Israelis or whether they are Taliban or anybody else," he said, referring to the United Nations's need to deliver assistance to victims at times of war. [emphasis added]

Despite those gestures toward Lebanese Hezbollah supporters — and though he met with the Shiite speaker of Lebanon's parliament, Nabih Berri, and with Hezbollah's Cabinet minister, Muhammed Fneish, as well as Prime Minister Siniora — a Shiite crowd booed the U.N. chief as he visited a hard—hit Beirut neighborhood.

Surrounded by armed guards, Mr. Annan was forced to retreat to his car after a crowd in the Hezbollah—controlled southern Beirut neighborhood booed and heckled him, according to press reports.

Ed Lasky   8 29 06