Israel accused of ignoring UN warnings

The United Nations has accused Israel of ignoring warnings from peacekeepers in Lebanon before the destruction of a UN observer post, which killed four people.

According to a UN report, staff at the post made ten warning calls before the post in the town of Khiam was hit by an Israeli missile, killing four UN observers on Tuesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed regret over the deaths. However, Israel has denied claims by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that Israel deliberately targeted the post.

An investigation into the attack has reportedly been launched.

Heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters is continuing in southern Lebanon, two weeks after the Israel offensive was launched, in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers and the deaths of eight others by Hezbollah.

According to reports on Arab television, 12 Israeli soldiers have been killed. However, these reports have not been been confirmed by the Israeli army.

On Tuesday, it was reported that Israel had claimed to have killed between 20 and 30 Hezbollah fighters in the space of 24 hours.

Hezbollah has continued to attack northern Israel, reportedly firing nearly 100 rockets into the country on Tuesday. Further reports indicate that the country has been hit by more than 100 rockets on Wednesday.

According to reports, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned on television that the organisation had rockets that were capable of striking targets further south into Israel, with some reports indicating that the rockets can reach as far as Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, Israel's offensive into the Gaza Strip continued on Wednesday, with reports that 12 Palestinians, including a three-year-old girl, had been killed. That offensive was launched in response to the capture of an Israeli soldier by Hamas-linked militants last month.

Also on Wednesday, the first shipment of humanitarian aid, such as food and medical supplies arrived in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre. A plane also arrived from Jordan, reportedly to evacuate the most seriously injured Lebanese citizens.

On Wednesday, a summit was held in Rome to discuss the crisis in the Middle East. The summit of foreign ministers from both EU and Arab nations, as well as the US and Russia, was organised by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who visited Beirut and Israel earlier this week.

A statement was released expressing "determination to working immediately to reach, with the utmost urgency, a ceasefire that puts an end to the current conflict and hostility."

The statement also said that a ceasefire had to be "lasting, permanent and sustainable".

An international force with a UN mandate must also be provided in southern Lebanon, the statement added.

(KMcA/SP)