Saudi Arabia criticises US policy over Lebanon

RIYADH, Aug 2 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, today criticised Washington's stance on the Israeli military campaign in Lebanon and urged it to press for an immediate ceasefire.

''We disagree with the US policy in this area ... the United States is the super power and it can seek an immediate ceasefire,'' Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told a news conference.

''(We) take issue with the United States that it did not take a position that prevents Israel from striking Lebanon.'' He said Washington was morally obliged to prevent Israel from using US-made weapons in attacks against civilians.

The kingdom, which fears the rising influence of Shi'ite power Iran in the Arab world, has called for a ceasefire but has also blamed Hizbollah -- a militant Islamic group allied with Iran and Syria -- for the conflict in which hundreds of people have been killed.

The conflict flared after Hizbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12. Hizbollah has since fired rockets into northern Israel.

In rare public criticism of the United States, the minister also slammed US plans for a ''new Middle East'' that Washington says is aimed at promoting peace and democracy in the region.

''We would like to return to the old Middle East as we did not see anything in the new (Middle East) apart from more problems,'' he said. ''The Middle East is not an uninhabited area, it has people, governments and our destiny is determined after God's will by its people.'' He called for Arab solidarity and said Arab nations were capable of safeguarding their interests.

REUTERS SBA BD2302