BEIRUT: U.N. Interim Special Coordinator to Lebanon Robert Watkins expressed concern Wednesday over the two explosions that took place earlier in the day in the southern city of Tyre.

Watkins also reiterated the need for Lebanon to meet its obligations toward funding the U.N.-backed court probing the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“We are very concerned of course by any kind of rupture of stability in the country and explosions of this nature are an issue of concern, particularly when they happen in the south,” Watkins told reporters after meeting with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea.

Tyre was rocked early Wednesday by two explosions that occurred minutes apart. The first ripped through the Queen Elissa Hotel, popular with U.N. staffers, while the other explosion went off at a wholesale liquor store near Tyre’s port.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said the explosions were related to the sale of alcohol in Tyre rather than targeting the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon.

“We are very concerned always about the security of the United Nations peacekeeping force in the south, UNIFIL ... we do not believe that this was necessarily targeted toward the United Nations but, as I say, we are very sensitive both from our own security perspective and also for the security and fragility of Lebanon,” Watkins said after meeting the LF leader.

Two roadside bombs targeted UNIFIL contingents earlier this year in two separate incidents in the southern city of Sidon. International diplomats, especially those with states contributing to the U.N. force in the south, have repeatedly called on Lebanon to improve the protection of peacekeepers.

Watkins said he did not expect attacks on UNIFIL, but “of course we always have to be prepared.”

He also said he had discussed with Geagea the report of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 that was submitted Tuesday to the U.N. Security Council.

Watkins had met with Prime Minister Najib Mikati Monday to discuss the report.

Watkins said Wednesday that his talks with Geagea had centered on the problems in the progress toward a permanent cease-fire between Lebanon and Israel.

"That being said however, we are relatively pleased with the quiet and stability in the south,” the U.N. official added.

However, Watkins said that further steps needed to be taken by Israel and Lebanon toward a permanent cease-fire.

Watkins also reiterated the U.N.'s concern over the Syrian Army’s border incursions into Lebanon, saying that UNSCR 1701 stipulates that Lebanon control and manage its borders.

UNSCR 1701 brokered a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon after the July-August 2006 war. The U.N. secretary-general submits a report on the implementation of the resolution every four months. The last report was submitted on July 1. The Security Council is due to discuss the report on Nov. 29.

During his meetings Wednesday, Watkins also held discussions with MP Butros Harb and the two discussed the report by the U.N. secretary-general as well as domestic issues that ranged from the draft law on the new electoral law to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The two also discussed the issue of funding for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

"We talked about the funding of the Special Tribunal, which as you know the United Nations believes is a very important issue for the government to follow up on. We believe it is part of their international and moral obligations to fund the Special Tribunal,” Watkins said.