Jerusalem - The Lebanese Hezbollah guerrilla group plans to kidnap Israelis travelling abroad, Israel's National Security Council warned Wednesday afternoon.

In a statement, the council urged Israelis abroad to be wary of "unusual events," to turn down unexpected tempting business or entertainment offers and to avoid letting suspicious persons or unknown visitors into their hotel rooms or apartments.

Beirut- Lebanese Energy Minister Alain Tabourian boycotted an official visit to Iraq in protest against the way he was treated when he was accompanying Prime Minister Fouad Seniora on his trip to Egypt last week, sources said Wednesday.

Sources close to Seniora said Tabourian had been invited to Baghdad, but that he declined, saying he had other commitments elsewhere.

Tabourian, who is a member of the Hezbollah opposition party, refused to comment on his reasons not to accompany Seniora on his current trip to Iraq.

Baghdad - Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Senior arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday, Iraqi state television reported.

Seniora's visit that will include talks on trade and oil, is the first to the conflict-torn country by a Lebanese leader in two decades.

Officials in Baghdad preparing for Seniora's visit told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa he would be accompanied by a political and economic delegation.

Iraq regards his visit as an important step towards rebuilding relations with Lebanon, they said. Baghdad is working to re-establish ties with its neighbours in the wake of five years of bloodshed.

Beirut - Sunni Muslim militant groups on Tuesday suspended their unity accord with the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, just 24 hours after it was announced at a press conference in Beirut.

On Monday, Hezbollah signed a memorandum of understanding with Lebanon's Salafist movements, which group Sunni Muslim fundamentalist factions. The deal's stated goal was "to preserve national unity and prevent sedition."

The Salafi groups on Tuesday announced the indefinite freezing of the understanding with Hezbollah.

Brussels - The European Union's executive body on Wednesday condemned as "appalling" the bomb attack in the Lebanese town of Tripoli which killed at least 17 people.

"I strongly condemn the bomb attack in Lebanon this morning, which caused numerous casualties - both civilian and military - in the city centre of Tripoli," EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero- Waldner said in a statement.

"The perpetrators of this appalling terrorist crime must be pursued and brought to justice.

"I express my sincere condolences to the families of those killed and injured at this time of loss.

Beirut- A Syrian-Lebanese summit scheduled for August 13 and 14 is to focus on the establishment for the first time of diplomatic relations including the opening of embassies between the two countries, a Lebanese government source said Tuesday.

"The establishment of diplomatic relations between Damascus and Beirut, and the opening of embassies in each other's country for the first time in their history will be at the focus of the discussions between the two state leaders," said the Lebanese official, who requested anonymity.