Bush demands Syria stop Hizbollah attacks

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, July 15 (Reuters) US President George W Bush today demanded that Syria rein in Hizbollah attacks on Israel but Russia's Vladimir Putin said Israel's military response should be ''balanced''.

At a joint news conference, Bush again declined to urge Israel to curb its attacks on Hizbollah targets in Lebanon, a position at odds with that of French President Jacques Chirac and some other Group of Eight leaders attending a summit here.

Bush laid the blame for this week's upsurge in West Asia violence squarely on Hizbollah guerrillas for firing rockets from Lebanon into Israel and abducting Israeli soldiers.

Israel has responded with attacks on Beirut's airport and a blockade of its port, prompting international concern that Lebanon's fragile government could be in danger and that the violence could spread.

''The best way to stop the violence is for Hizbollah to lay down its arms and to stop attacking. And therefore I call upon Syria to exert influence over Hizbollah,'' Bush said.

Putin, whose government has expressed concern about the region sliding into war, said he agreed it was ''absolutely unacceptable'' for Hizbollah to pursue political goals by use of force and abductions from the territory of another state.

''This is all true, and in this context, we consider Israel's concerns to be justified,'' the Russian president said. But, he said, ''the use of force should be balanced''.

''In any case, bloodshed should stop as soon as possible,'' Putin, host of the G8 summit, said.

COMMON GROUND Putin said he would seek common ground with G8 colleagues ''in order to bring the situation, as soon as possible, to a conclusion where concrete results can be achieved, not only on the cessation of combat but also in terms of building an enabling environment for Israel within secure borders''.

Bush has argued that Israel has a right to defend itself but should work to minimise civilian casualties. He has largely left discussions with Israeli leaders to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

A supporter of Israel throughout his presidency, Bush is seen as unlikely to want to antagonise the Jewish state in the run-up to November's congressional elections.

The sudden crisis over Israel and Lebanon has come as Bush and his government struggle to help Iraq's fledging government halt sectarian violence, while also seeking a diplomatic solution to the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea.

Syria and Iran have influence over Hizbollah but Washington has little leverage over the two nations, having already imposed sanctions on them.

Bush has called on other Arab states to pressure Syria to stop Hizbollah, arguing in phone calls with Arab leaders including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that the group threatens to destabilise the entire region.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush wanted to work with France and other allies on getting Hizbollah out of Lebanon just as they worked to persuade Syria to leave the country.

Reuters AK GC1635