Special Report: New clash between Israeli, Lebanese troops    

    ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Agreement on the UN Security Council's resolution on the Lebanese-Israeli conflict "has not been reached yet," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday.

    "Russia immediately supported Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's call for a ceasefire as the necessary first step," he said in an interview with the Vesti-24 TV channel.

    "Afterward, other steps to resolve the conflict may follow; these will include releasing the Israeli soldiers, and both parties stopping attacks and destruction of civilian infrastructure," Lavrov said.

    Aides to the G8 presidents and foreign ministers are holding meetings on the issue, and the results will be reported to the Russian president, Lavrov said.

    "The G8 cannot remain silent in the face of the tragedy unfolding in the Palestinian territories and in southern Lebanon," he said. "I hope that we will be able to report to the president today."

    G8 leaders should speak out, and their declaration must not be trivial, it must have influence on the parties and contribute to a settlement, he added.

    "This response must be concrete and must encourage the efforts that are being taken to pacify the situation," the minister said.

    Israel launched its offensive Wednesday on Lebanon in retaliation for the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerillas. Early on Sunday, Israel intensified its air strikes on Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut with a new wave of bombings.

    Meanwhile, at least eight Israelis were killed and many others wounded in rocket attacks against Israel's northern city of Haifa by Hezbollah militia on Sunday morning, according to Israeli media reports.

    Russia, which hosts the ongoing G8 summit, decided to list the Middle East crisis among the top agenda of the summit meeting held in the second biggest Russian city of St. Petersburg. Enditem