MPs express anger over killings of civilian in Lebanon

New Delhi, July 28 (UNI) In a move to step up pressure on the Manmohan Singh government to adopt a ''strong position'' against Israeli attacks on Lebanon, MPs from Left as well as UPA allies today urged the UPA government to suspend arms purchases from the ''aggressor'' and support the demand for sanctions against it.

In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, over 80 MPs of the Left, NCP, RJD and the SP, strongly condemning the ''brutal military aggression,'' said that the Israeli aggression was a ''brazen violation of international law and the Geneva Convention, which prohibited attacks on civilians.'' ''Since July, Israel has launched a full-scale assault on Lebanon through massive aerial and naval bombardment and by ground forces crossing the border in South Lebanon. The attack has primarily targeted civilians and till July 2006, over 380 Lebanese have been killed and hundreds injured. 7,50,000 people had to flee their home, which constitutes 20 per cent of the population,'' the memorandum, released to mediapersons by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and MP Sitaram Yechury at a press conference in the Parliament House premises, said.

Terming the ''war of destruction'' as ''totally unwarranted and disproportionate response to the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers,'' the MPs also expressed ''unhappiness'' with the PM's ''half-hearted'' statment in Parliament yesterday on the issue.

Expressing their solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for their homeland and the people of Lebanon, ''who are bearing the brunt of Israel's inhuman attack,'' they called for immediately suspending purchase of weaponry from Israel and supporting sanctions against the country.

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