No agreement on Lebanon-Israel resolution yet: Russian FM

    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." Full story>>

Watch video>>

	Cross border conflict escalates Israel is blaming the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group for an attack on its third largest city, Haifa. The strike prompted Israeli threats of further retaliation, raising the stakes in an already violent cross-border confrontation.
	Israel threatens Lebanon Israel has pounded southern Lebanon with airstrikes and artillery. It also sent ground troops over the border for the first time in six years.

	Arab League urges UN to curb conflict Arab foreign ministers, who gathered here for an emergency meeting, on Saturday urged the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to intervene and stop an escalating conflict in the Middle East.
	Putin hosts dinner for G8 leaders The Russian president hopes to stick to the agenda of energy security, epidemic control and education. But the escalating violation in the Mideast is also drawing the attention of the leaders. President Putin says it is unacceptable to try to reach politic goals through abductions and strikes in independent states.