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Rome talks seek peace terms for Lebanon
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Rome talks seek peace terms for Lebanon
World diplomats held crisis talks on Lebanon yesterday under growing pressure for a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah, but they played down the chance of a quick deal.
The Lebanese government and foreign policy chiefs from the United States, Middle East and Europe met in Rome to discuss ways to end the 15-day-old conflict that has killed 418 people in Lebanon and 42 Israelis. Four UN observers were killed in an Israeli air strike on Tuesday. Israel was not invited to the conference, nor was Hizbollah or its allies Syria and Iran. Arab leaders were expected to demand an urgent peace deal, but Washington and some in the European Union believe the conditions are not yet right for a lasting ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Italy co-chaired the conference, which was being watched by oil markets nervous about the conflict spreading to oil producers. Italian Prime minister Romano Prodi said he hoped the talks would break the “cycle of violence” with steps on security, a humanitarian corridor to help civilians and discussion of a multinational force for the Israeli-Lebanese border.
He condemned “forces in the region working to create tension and insecurity” without singling out Hizbollah as terrorists, something Israel has long wanted Europe to do. With reports of nine Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon yesterday, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near East David Welch said a ceasefire was a matter of “some urgency”.
“But the object here is to create conditions for a sustainable ceasefire,” Welch said en route to Rome. France brought the outlines of a draft UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire. Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told French radio it called for “a cessation of hostilities first, for a political negotiation afterwards”.
“Terrible humanitarian problems”</B>
Hizbollah’s capture of two Israeli soldiers on July 12 sparked the Israel bombings, one of which killed four UN observers on Tuesday in what UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called an “apparently deliberate” attack – a charge dismissed by Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert. Israel blames Hizbollah for starting the fighting and has said it will press on with its offensive. Annan called on both sides to end the violence.
The Rome talks were expected to focus on what sort of new international force could be deployed in Lebanon, where an existing UN force of 2,000 troops has struggled.
French President Jacques Chirac told Le Monde daily that his country could play a major role in an international force, though disarming Hizbollah should not be part of its mandate. Delegates included Lebanese Prime minister Fouad Siniora, plus Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt. Also attending were Germany, France and Britain, as well as Russia and Turkey and the United Nations, EU and World Bank.
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CRISIS
<B>Fighting rages in S.Lebanon, 13 Israelis killed </B>
■ Hizbollah guerrillas and advancing Israeli troops fought pitched battles at the entrance to a key town in south Lebanon yesterday and Arab television stations said up to 13 Israeli soldiers had been killed. Lebanese security sources said fierce fighting erupted when an Israeli force controlling a nearby hill tried to advance to the main entrance of the town of Bint Jbeil, a Hizbollah stronghold 4 km (2.5 miles) from the Israel-Lebanon border.
Guerrillas ambushed the advancing force and fighting at close quarters ensued. Hizbollah sources said the advancing force was cut off and most of its vehicles were destroyed and soldiers hit.
The Hizbollah sources estimated 35 casualties had been inflicted on the force and said Israeli attempts to evacuate casualties had been foiled. “Al Jazeera Television” said 13 soldiers had been killed while “Al Arabiya Television” put the Israeli death toll at 12.
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