Ammon News - Al-Manar broadcasted footage of Israeli President Shimon Peres at a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton calling on the 28-nation bloc to blacklist Hezbollah

BEIRUT (AFP) Lebanon's Hezbollah-run Al-Manar television accused the European Union on Monday of bowing to Israeli demands in blacklisting the Shiite militant group's armed wing.

"The European Union has surrendered to the wishes of Israel in adding Hezbollah to its blacklist," the television said.

It accused Britain of taking the lead in efforts to impose the sanction, which was swiftly welcomed by both Israel and its US ally.

The television commentary was the first reaction to the EU move by Hezbollah.

"The leaders of the enemy state (Israel) have tried for years to push Europe to take this decision and promote it with flagrant support from the Americans and the British," the television said.

It also broadcast footage of Israeli President Shimon Peres at a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton calling on the 28-nation bloc to blacklist Hezbollah.

"Britain was at the forefront of the campaign... at times citing the Burgas attack and at other times citing the arrest of a suspect in Cyprus," the television said.

Hezbollah's military wing was blamed for a deadly attack on Israeli tourists last year in Burgas, Bulgaria. In March, a Hezbollah operative was convicted in Cyprus of plotting a similar attack.

"In reaching this agreement, the EU has sent a clear message that it stands united against terrorism," British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in Brussels on Monday after the decision was announced.