Beirut  - An international human rights watchdog says immigrant maids in Lebanon are dying of "unnatural causes" at an alarming rate and called for an immediate investigation, local radios reported Wednesday.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said at least 95 migrants who worked as domestic servants died in Lebanon since January 2007, mostly in suicides or in attempts to escape abuse.

Researcher Nadim Houry said domestic workers are dying "at a rate of more than one per week."

A report by HRW last year criticized several Gulf states and Lebanon for failing to stop abuse and secure protection for migrant women workers, around of 150,000 work in Lebanon.

Beirut  - Lebanon has indicted Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi and is seeking his arrest for his alleged role in the disappearance of a Lebanese Shi'ite Muslim leader in 1978, according to Lebanese local radio Wednesday.

Lebanese Shiite leaders have long accused Libya of kidnapping Imam Musa al-Sadr and two of his aides during a visit to the North African country. Libya has denied such a charge on several occasions.

Lebanon's public prosecutor said in August 2004 he would open the investigation after looking into new evidence.

"We decided ... to accuse Moamer Gaddafi ... of inciting the kidnapping ... of Imam Musa al-Sadr," radio stations quoted court documents.

Beirut - The United Nations Interim Force in South Lebanon (UNIFIL) Monday denied reports of an Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon.

"Israeli troops did not violate the Blue Line near Marjeyoun, as was widely reported in Lebanese media one day earlier," deputy UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said.

"There was no crossing of the (Israeli Army) through the Blue Line," Tenenti said, adding that UNIFIL troops had been in the area.

Lebanese media, quoting security sources, said that eight soldiers belonging to the Israeli military had crossed about 100 metres into Mais al-Jabal in the Marjeyoun area for some 15 minutes before retreating to Israel.

Beirut  - Lebanon has officially approved establishing diplomatic ties with Syria and the opening of a Lebanese embassy in Damascus, official sources said Friday.

"The decision was taken in a late cabinet meeting Thursday and hopefully the opening of an embassy in Syria will be soon after all the necessary diplomatic issues are settled," the source said.

Information Minister Tarek Mitri said following a cabinet meeting late Thursday that Lebanon's foreign minister has been entrusted with following up on the mechanism to set up the embassy. He did not set a timeframe.