Russia says Israel offensive oversteps mark

MOSCOW, July 20 (Reuters) Russia today said the Israeli offensive on Lebanon had gone ''far beyond'' the anti-terrorist operation Tel Aviv says it is conducting against the Hizbollah militia.

''The unprecedented scale of victims and destruction bear witness to the fact that the actions that were announced to (free captured Israeli servicemen) have gone far beyond the bounds of an anti-terrorist operation,'' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

REUTERS DKA PM1623