Israel agrees 48-hr aerial activity ban - US official

JERUSALEM, July 31 (Reuters) Israel has agreed to suspend its aerial bombardment of southern Lebanon for 48 hours, starting immediately, to allow for an investigation into bombing that killed 54 civilians, a US State Department official said today.

Israel will also coordinate with the United Nations to allow a 24-hour window for residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area if they wish, State Department spokesman Adam Ereli told a briefing in Jerusalem.

While suspending aerial activity, Ereli made clear that Israel had the right to ''take action against targets preparing attacks against it'', reiterating US policy that the Jewish state has the right to defend itself against attack.

''Israel has agreed to a 48-hour suspension of aerial activity in south Lebanon to investigate today's tragic incident in Qana,'' said Ereli.

The announcement came after Rice held extended meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni at which the top US diplomat urged Israel to use restraint after the Qana bombing in which two-thirds of the victims were children.

The goal, said Ereli, was to improve the flow of humanitarian aid to ease the suffering of families in south Lebanon caught up in the 19-day war.

Israel's move followed the cancellation of a visit by Rice to Beirut yesterday after the Lebanese government said it could not hold negotiations until there was an immediate ceasefire.

REUTERS SRS BST0441