ITALY: Ministers gather for Rome meeting on how to end fighting between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas

Crisis talks on Lebanon began in Rome on Wednesday (July 26) with pressure growing for a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas after four U.N. observers were killed, but diplomats played down the chance of a quick deal. Senior diplomats from the United States, Middle East and Europe met to discuss ways to end the 15-day-old conflict that has killed 418 people in Lebanon and 42 Israelis. Arab leaders were expected to demand an urgent peace deal, but Washington and the European Union believe the conditions are not yet right for a lasting ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was co-chairing the conference with Italy. It was being watched by oil markets nervous about the conflict spreading to oil producers. Rice met Italian counterpart Massimo D'Alema before talks began to discuss the agenda. Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi hopes the talks might produce a ceasefire. Israel was not invited to the conference, nor were Hizbollah or its ally Syria. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said as she went into the meeting that three things were needed. "First we want to see something done to ease the terrible humanitarian problems in Lebanon. Second we need an international plan to enable us to bring a durable end to hostilities that's the thing that everybody most wants to see. And third, of course, what we need is to make sure we are shoring up and strengthening the government of Lebanon rather than weakening it as has been some of the concern in recent days. So I think we need agreement from the international community here to move this forward," she told reporters. Delegates included Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt and European powers Germany, France and Britain, plus Russia and Turkey and the United Nations, EU and World Bank. Hizbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers sparked the Israel bombings, one of which killed four U.N. observers on Tuesday (July 25) in what Annan called an "apparently deliberate" attack -- a charge dismissed by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Israel blames Hizbollah for starting the fighting and has said it will press on with its offensive.

ITN Source | July 26, 2006

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