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World leaders have expressed concern over the
sudden escalation in violence between Israel and Lebanon. They have
condemned Hezbollah's kidnapping as well as Israel's aggressive response, calling
on all parties to find a negotiated resolution. (Photo:
CCTV) |
BEIJING, July 14 -- World leaders have expressed concern
over the sudden escalation in violence between Israel and Lebanon. They have
condemned Hezbollah's kidnapping as well as Israel's aggressive response,
calling on all parties to find a negotiated resolution.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says he is deeply
worried about the spiraling conflict. He has sent a three-person team to the
region to engage in diplomatic efforts for an end to the violence.
Kofi Annan said, "They will be in Cairo tomorrow,
where they will consult on Saturday with the Secretary General of the Arab
League and the Arab League foreign ministers."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the
situation had to be discussed at the Group of Eight summit this weekend. He also
said Russia was in a good position to help.
"The situation must be stopped and brought to a
normal process of negotiations. It is not acceptable for anyone to take
hostages, it is not acceptable to kill civilians while trying to liberate
hostages."
Syria has called for an effective and unified Arab
stance to curb Israel's escalating military operations.
To discuss the situation, Arab ambassadors to Lebanon
met with the country's prime minister on Thursday.
After the meeting, the ambassadors expressed their
support for Lebanon.
Ali Suleimanal said, "We will tell our governments
about these dangerous developments. We will work with the Lebanese government to
gain more international support to deal with this serious escalation in
violence."
Meanwhile, Jordan's cabinet has called on the United
Nations and the international community to immediately interfere to end the
conflict. It has also urged all concerned parties to exercise restraint and end
practices that might provoke further violence.
(Source: CCTV.com)
Related:
Israeli-Lebanese violence
escalates Gallery <<<<
BEIRUT, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes bombed the
fuel storage tanks of Lebanese Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut's
southern suburb after nightfall Thursday, Lebanese Future TV reported.
One helicopter warplane raked the fuel tanks with machine
gunfire while three others fired air-to-surface missiles, Lebanese security
sources was quoted as saying. Full story <<<
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