Russia sends envoy to West Asia to push for peace

MOSCOW, July 18 (Reuters) Russia is sending a deputy foreign minister to the West Asia today to push for an end to violence in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

The foreign ministry said in a statement that Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov would also lobby in favour of a proposed UN force intended to secure southern Lebanon.

''In the course of his meeting with the countries' leadership particular attention will be placed on finding a way to rapidly end the bloodshed and violence,'' the ministry said.

It did not say which countries Saltanov would visit.

At the G8 summit in St Petersburg, world leaders suggested the United Nations send an international force to the Lebanese border.

Israeli forces bombarded Lebanon for a seventh day on Tuesday to punish militant group Hizbollah for rocket attacks on targets inside Israel and for the seizure of Israeli soldiers.

Israel has also been conducting an offensive in Gaza intended to free a soldier abducted by Palestinian militants.

REUTERS SHB PM1607