Iraq vice president accuses Israel of massacres

BAGHDAD, July 31: Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi today accused Israel of ''massacres'' in Lebanon, the toughest criticism so far of the Jewish state by the US backed Baghdad government.

''These ugly massacres, which are being implemented by the hands of the Israeli aggression, incites in us the spirit of brotherhood, solidarity,'' he said.

An Israeli air strike killed at least 54 civilians, including 37 children, in the Lebanese village Qana yesterday, the biggest single death toll in nearly three weeks of fighting triggered by Hizbollah guerrillas' abduction of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid.

Abdul Mahdi called for an immediate end to fighting between Israeli forces and the Shi'ite Hizbollah militants.

''Our area (land) needs security and stability. It needs peace so there has to be an instant ceasefire in Lebanon. All issues should be dealt with in political and peaceful ways, and aggression should be held back and stopped at its limits.'' He was speaking at a memorial ceremony marking the death of Shi'ite leader Ayatollah Mohammed Baqr al-Hakim in a bombing in the southern city of Najaf in 2003.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, also a Shi'ite Islamist, condemned Israel before his trip to the Washington last week, drawing fierce criticism from US lawmakers.

REUTERS

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