Israeli strikes go beyond normal reprisals -Jakarta

JAKARTA, July 17 (Reuters) Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, said today that Israel's aerial bombardment of Lebanon had gone beyond normal retaliation.

Jakarta called on Israel to stop the attacks that have destroyed much of Lebanon's infrastructure, and urged the disputing parties to get back to the negotiating table.

''We condemn the haphazard attacks that have caused losses including innocent civilians becoming victims,'' said Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

Israel's Lebanon strikes, which have killed more than 160 people, mostly civilians, began on Wednesday after Lebanese Hizbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers on the border of the two West Asian countries.

Hizbollah fighters have fired hundreds of rockets at Israel, killing at least 12 civilians, and another 12 Israelis have also died in the fighting.

''If Israel defines these attacks as retaliatory acts, clearly they have gone beyond the norm. They are disproportionate.

Therefore, again we call on Israel to stop its military actions,'' Wirajuda said, adding Indonesia had decided to move its mission staff in Beirut to Damascus.

Indonesia, 85 per cent of whose 220 million people are Muslims, cooperates closely with the United States in anti-terrorism efforts in Southeast Asia, but is a strong critic of much of its West Asia policy.

Indonesia has no diplomatic relations with Israel, while it recognises the Palestinian territories' government as independent.

The latter has an embassy in Jakarta.

Public opinion in Indonesia is overwhelmingly against Israel.

Around 6,000 protesters flooded Jakarta's central roundabout on Sunday denouncing the Jewish state, and burned mock Israeli flags as a sign of protest.

REUTERS SHB RN1612