Bush, Chirac differ over call for Lebanon truce

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, July 16 (Reuters) US President George W Bush today repeated that Israel had the right to defend itself in West Asia but French leader Jacques Chirac appealed for a ceasefire.

Bush urged restraint by Israel but did not back Lebanese calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Chirac, in Russia with Bush and other world leaders for a Group of Eight summit, said a ceasefire was needed to protect civilians in Lebanon. Israel has launched an offensive on Lebanon to punish Hizbollah guerrilla attacks across its border.

''We appeal for the protection of the civilian population and for some moderation with the creation of a lasting ceasefire,'' Chirac said at a bilateral meeting with Bush on the fringes of the summit.

''It is necessary to stop all the forces which put at risk, which endanger the security, the stability and the sovereignty of Lebanon,'' he said.

Earlier, Bush was asked by reporters if he supported the Lebanese appeal for a ceasefire. ''Our message to Israel is defend yourself but be mindful of the consequences, so we are urging restraint,'' he replied.

Referring to forthcoming discussion of the West Asia by the G8 leaders, Bush said: ''I think most leaders are beginning to recognise the root cause of the problem.'' Bush has pinned blame for the upsurge in violence on Hizbollah.

BLAIR BLAMES EXTREMISTS British Prime Minister Tony Blair, echoing earlier comments by Bush, blamed what he called extremists backed by Iran and Syria for the crisis.

''The essential point is this: we all want the situation to calm down. The question is how do we calm it down from the position now? ... The only way we are going to get this situation calm and we are going to get a cessation of hostilities is if we address the reasons why the situation has arisen,'' Blair said after meeting Bush.

''The basic reasons are that there are extremists that want to interrupt the process that could lead to (a) two-state solution -- Israel with its security protected and a proper independent Palestinian state.

''There are also extremists, backed I'm afraid by Iran and Syria, who want to disrupt the position in Lebanon and want to create a situation of tension and hostility there.'' Israel launched its most destructive onslaught on Lebanon since its 1982 invasion after Hizbollah guerrillas captured two of its soldiers and killed eight. Its air strikes killed 25 civilians yesterday.

The violence has forced its way to the top of the agenda at the G8 summit in St Petersburg, driving a wedge between the United States, a strong backer of Israel, and those who say the Jewish state is being too violent.

The UN Security Council rejected pleas that it call for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon after the United States objected, diplomats said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, the G8 host, has condemned the hostage-taking by Hizbollah but accused Israel of having ulterior motives in its military action.

Reuters SY VP1205