Lebanon ceasefire is urgent: Condoleezza Rice

Shannon (Ireland), July 24: On a mission to avert full-scale war in the West Asia, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said there was an ''urgent'' need for a ceasefire in southern Lebanon but conditions had to be right.

Speaking to reporters late yesterday as she began a trip to the West Asia, which includes stops in Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, Rice said her focus was also to ease the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, which has been pounded by nearly two weeks of fighting between Hizbollah guerrillas and Israeli forces.

''It is very important to establish conditions under which a ceasefire can take place. We believe that a ceasefire is urgent, Rice said before a refuelling stop in Shannon, Ireland.

''It is important to have conditions that will make it also sustainable,'' Rice said.

Before leaving Washington, Rice met Saudi foreign minister Saud al-Faisal at the White House, where he pressed President George W Bush to back an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in southern Lebanon.

Bush has resisted calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying Israel has a right to defend itself and that a cessation of hostilities must address the root causes of the conflict.

Reuters

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