World condemns Israeli attack but divisions show

PARIS, July 30 (Reuters) World leaders today condemned an Israeli attack on Lebanon that killed at least 54 civilians, but the United States and Britain again refrained from joining calls for an immediate ceasefire.

France, China, Jordan, Egypt, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Nations were among many to say the attack on the village of Qana showed the need for an immediate end to fighting between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas.

However, the U S and British positions highlighted international divisions as the U.N. Security Council met to discuss the 19-day-old war.

''France condemns this unjustified action which demonstrates more than ever the need for an immediate ceasefire without which there will only be other such incidents,'' French President Jacques Chirac's office said in a statement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao warned of ''an even greater disaster'' if the fighting carried on. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa called for an international investigation into ''this massacre and other Israeli war crimes''.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed sorrow about the deaths, most of them children, but he said rocket attacks on Israel came from the area. He wants another 10 to 14 days to finish the offensive.

Lebanon says 750 people have been killed since the fighting began.

Fifty-one Israelis have also been killed.

The United States said Israel must avoid civilian casualties but stopped short of calling for an immediate ceasefire.

A White House statement said U S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Jerusalem, was working to arrange the conditions for a ''sustainable'' ceasefire soon.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said world leaders must try to pick up the pieces after the bombing and agree on a U N resolution.

In Jerusalem, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo d'Alema told reporters after talks with Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz: ''We are friends of Israel and I think, when you are a friend of this country that feels threatened and care about its destiny, you also have a duty to tell the truth, and the truth is that nothing is as negative for Israel as the images of the children killed in Qana.'' In Athens, Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman George Goumoutsakos said in a statement: ''Now the need for a ceasfire is more pressing than ever. The international community, all of us, must immediately codemn the war.'' In Beirut, several thousand protesters chanted ''Death to Israel, Death to America'' outside the U N offices and some smashed their way into the building.

Several hundred protesters, some carrying banners calling for ''Freedom for Palestine and Lebanon'', gathered in London's Trafalgar Square.

''I think the bombing is deliberate. I think they want to kill people, to destroy the infrastructure for a greater Israel,'' said David Kulczycki, 55, who lives in London and was unhappy with Britain's position.

The United States is facing criticism around the world for refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire and for seeming to give Israel the green light to continue its attacks.

Israel and the United States want to ensure Hizbollah is eventually disarmed under a U N resolution.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said France and the United States agreed on this aim but said there were ''deep divisions'' between the two countries, which fell out over the 2003 U S-led invasion of Iraq, over how to achieve it.

France has drawn up a draft U N Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire to prepare for the deployment of an international force.

Paris has insisted on a ceasefire accompanied by a political agreement before any international troops should be deployed.

U N Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the Security Council to condemn the attack and call for an immediate end to hostilities.

The United States also blames Hizbollah's allies Syria and Iran for the conflict. France wants Iran to participate in efforts to find a solution.

REUTERS SKU RN2236