Israel violating humanitarian law - EU aid chief

BRUSSELS, July 25 (Reuters) The European Commission's aid chief accused Israel today of violating international humanitarian law in Lebanon, saying its right to self-defence did not allow it to destroy Beirut and key infrastructure.

''The right of Israel to self-defence does not allow it to raze Beirut and all of the country's vital infrastructure to the ground in the name of the fight against Hizbollah,'' EU aid commissioner Louis Michel told Reuters.

''The way it is happening is a violation of international humanitarian law,'' he said in a phone interview.

Michel's remarks are in contrast to more reserved statements by European Union member states, who have called for all parties to protect civilians and adhere to international law without specifically accusing Israel of abuses.

Michel said the Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah was also abusing international humanitarian law and urged both parties to protect safe corridors to deliver humanitarian aid.

Israel has launched daily air strikes on southern Lebanon, Beirut and other parts of the country. Hizbollah has fired rockets into northern Israel. A total of 411 people in Lebanon and 42 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.

Aid efforts have been hit by Israel's bombing of civilian infrastructure including roads and bridges and its targeting of commercial trucks, the United Nations said yesterday.

Israel announced today that it will allow aid airlifts to land in Beirut airport, but Michel said it must go further.

''It is a first small positive point but it will not be enough,'' he said, adding that land routes must be opened to get the aid through.

The European Union is due to give a second 10 million euro (12.7 million dollars) tranche of aid in coming days to help people in Lebanon caught in the conflict, Michel said.

That aid comes on top of a first tranche of 10 million euros announced last week. Another 30 million euros might be added next month, Michel said.

The new EU cash comes after the United Nations appealed on Monday for 150 million dollars in humanitarian aid for the Lebanese.

REUTERS MQA PM2158