As armed clashes intensify, there are growing fears that Syria might become involved. Many countries back Lebanon's call for a meeting of the UN Security Council.

Beirut (AsiaNews) – Israel announced that it was imposing a "total blockade" on Lebanon as the Mideast quartet (United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia) started consultations to prevent the Lebanese-Israeli crisis from turning into a regional war. Chances this might happen have increased as rumours abound over a possible Israeli attack Damascus.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for the release of the abducted Israeli soldiers and an end to the clashes, whilst the current majority in Lebanon's parliament plans to harshly censure Hezbollah, accusing it of making decisions about war and peace for the whole nation.

Although local and world leaders have been trying to stop the armed clashes, this has not prevented Lebanon from experiencing its worst night since Israel's May 2000 pullout from its southern part. Today Beirut airport has been bombed and southern bridges destroyed.

Some sources report that Israel hit the Hussaynia in the town of Buday near Baalbeck in the Bekaa Valley, a renowned place of worship with an important centre for the teaching of the Sharia, causing casualties and partially destroying the centre.

The situation appears confused and alarming. Speaking in Germany where is on a visit, US President George W. Bush, after saying that Israel had the right to defend itself, added that he had dispatched US envoys to the region.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said that he spoke by phone to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, King Abdallah II of Jordan and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Egypt's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, appealed to all parties to show restraint and avoid further deteriorating the situation.

For his part, Lebanese Minister Fuad Siniora summoned the ambassadors from UN Security Council member states and instructed Caroline Ziade, Chargé d'Affaires at Lebanon's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, to address the Security Council.

Siniora also called for the intervention of the Arab League, which is bound to discuss the Lebanese question at its next meeting, scheduled for Saturday in Cairo.

"The main thing is not to allow the conflict to develop into all-out war between Lebanon and Israel," said Sergei Yakovlev, Russian Foreign Ministry Mideast Affairs representative.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Javier Solana expressed great concern and said he was in "permanent contact" with players in the region and with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. "Following these contacts, I envisage going to the region," he said in a statement.

Of a different nature the statements made by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah after the headquarters of his party's TV network al-Manar were bombed. Nasrallah expressed his full confidence in the future of Hezbollah, i.e. God's party, calling Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert a murderer, and pledging to see the struggle through till the release of all Hezbollah's prisoners in Israel. He said that the two Israeli soldiers abducted yesterday where in a safe place, far from air raids.

Lebanese Defence Ministry sources said that Israeli air strikes had so far killed 47 people. The death toll is however bound to rise since attacks, including by Hezbollah and other Lebanese Shiite groups, continue. (YH)

• lebanon
• israel
• mideast
• united
• nations
• border
• clashes
• abducted
• soldiers