ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said Monday that another 8,000 peacekeepers might be needed in the Lebanon-Israel conflict zone.

    The Italian prime minister told a press conference that he discussed the issue with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during the three-day G8 summit which ended in St. Petersburg on Monday afternoon.

    Prodi said Italy backed the idea of sending international peacekeepers to the conflict zone and was ready to help implement it, adding that he had informed Annan about his country's willingness.

    Over the past five days, Israel launched military operations in Lebanon as a revenge after the radical Hezbollah held two Israeli hostages on Wednesday, and Hezbollah fought back with rockets.

    The escalation caused dozens of deaths and more injuries on both sides. About 2,000 international peacekeepers are currently posted in the conflict zone.

    Prodi also said he had instructed relevant Italian agencies to prepare for a possible deployment in the fighting area if the UN Security Council decides to start a peacekeeping operation.

    During the summit, leaders of the G8 countries recognized Israel's right to defense but said it had to be applied proportionately and should cause fewer victims and less destruction, Prodi said.

    The escalating situation in the Middle East also affects the Mediterranean region, where Italy lies, the prime minister said. Enditem