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Politics : WAR on Terror. Will it engulf the Entire Middle East? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Scoobah who wrote (15286)	8/11/2006 12:53:00 PM
From: hdl	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32591

well, we let 100 of his family live

To: Scoobah who wrote (15286)	8/11/2006 1:44:06 PM
From: DeplorableIrredeemableRedneck	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 32591

Israel launches expanded Lebanese offensive Last Updated Fri, 11 Aug 2006 08:33:00 EDT CBC News The Israeli military launched an expansion of its offensive into Lebanon on Friday, after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave the go ahead. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in Annan's office at UN headquarters on Friday. (Associated Press) The move comes as officials at the United Nations tried to reach a negotiated ceasefire. Israeli government officials indicated that Olmert is dissatisfied with last-minute changes in the text of the UN ceasefire resolution that would reduce the role of an international force in southern Lebanon. Olmert and Defence Minister Amir Peretz were reported to have met for several hours before the decision was made. Expansion of Israel's push into Lebanon is seen as a means of denying Hezbollah bases to launch missiles into northern Israel. Earlier this week, Israeli leaders approved the push to Lebanon's Litani River, which is about 30 kilometres from the Israel-Lebanon border, but then decided to hold off while diplomats at the United Nations struggle to reach a negotiated ceasefire. Still hope for diplomacy: Rice Despite Israel's latest move, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said diplomatic efforts were still continuing at the United Nations on a Security Council resolution on a ceasefire. "We're working for a vote today," she said on her way into the Security Council. The U.S. ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, told reporters Friday that negotiators were "very, very close" to reaching an agreement on a draft resolution. The U.S. and France have been trying to agree on a timetable for the withdrawal of Israeli troops. They have also apparently agreed to propose to the UN that international troops join the existing UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon. The force would have the mandate to be more proactive than the current UN peacekeepers, an important condition for Israel before it withdraws its soldiers. Lebanon appeared to balk at the idea. Russia's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said Moscow feels enough is enough. "This diplomatic activity is not being conducted in a quiet academic environment," he said. "War is raging in Lebanon and the humanitarian situation is getting catastrophic." Russia has introduced its own resolution, calling for a 72-hour ceasefire to give humanitarian assistance a chance to get through to the hundreds of thousands of displaced Lebanese whom the UN says are out of reach for aid. Moscow also wants to avoid an escalated ground assault by Israel. The move was not welcomed by Bolton. "I don't think it's helpful to divert attention from seeking to get a permanent sustainable solution based on the approach we and the French have been taking," he said. Fighting continues Attacks by Israeli jets killed at least 14 people across Lebanon on Friday, including at least a dozen in an attack on the Abboudiyeh border crossing in the northern part of the country. The attack on the crossing into Syria left only one official border crossing from Lebanon to Syria open. Explosions were also reported in Beirut's southern suburbs, as reports indicated Israel was targeting Hezbollah positions in the area. Israeli warplanes also struck three vehicles in the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek, killing at least one person. One man also died when his motorcycle was hit on a coastal highway between Sidon and Tyre. For its part, Hezbollah responded by firing more than 150 rockets into northern Israel. No casualties were reported. According to the Associated Press, more than 800 people have died since the fighting started. They include 727 in Lebanon and 122 in Israel. Other sources put the numbers higher in Lebanon. UN peacekeepers arrived in the southern Lebanese town of Marjayoun, which Israel took control of on Thursday. The UN is organizing an evacuation involving 350 Lebanese soldiers and police, but the departure has been delayed because of the fighting. With files from Associated Press cbc.ca