LEBANON: French Health Minister Fracois Xavier arrives in Beirut as city wakes up to more bombardment

Israeli jets pounded Hizbollah's Beirut stronghold and troops battled the guerrillas in the south on Thursday (August 3) while world powers struggled to come up with a plan to stop a war now in its fourth week. The United States, France and Britain hope for a United Nations Security Council resolution within a week that would call for a truce and perhaps beef up existing U.N. peacekeepers until a more robust force can be formed, U.N. officials said. But diplomatic moves to swiftly end the fighting have been beset by splits between the United States and France, mentioned as leader of the new force, over the timing of a ceasefire. The airforce launched airstrikes on 70 targets in southern Lebanon and Beirut overnight, an Israeli army spokeswoman said. Israeli jets bombed a Hizbollah-dominated southern suburb for the first time in days. They also hit a bridge in the northern region of Akkar, the eastern Bekaa Valley and roads near the Syrian border, a Lebanese security source said. "Shame on the Arab world. They are watching as the Israelis bombard Beirut's southern suburb and southern Lebanon. We didn't sleep all night from the warplanes overhead. The resistance and Sayyad Hassan (Nasrallah) will not spare a single Jew," said Mohammed Saad from Beirut. Warplanes also struck dozens of times around the southern town of Nabatiyeh. Israel is also expanding the ground war in southern Lebanon, where some 10,000 troops are fighting Hizbollah guerrillas. One Israeli soldier was killed and four others wounded near the border village of Aita al-Shaab on Wednesday (August 2), the Israeli army confirmed early on Thursday. The death brings to 37 the number of Israeli troops killed in 23 days of fighting. At least 643 people in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and 56 Israelis have been killed in the conflict. French Health Minister Francois Xavier Bertrand arrived in Lebanon Thursday to supervise the distribution of aid sent by France. He is expected to meet Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora later in the day. "I am here to meet my friend and counterpart Mohammed Khalifa to see what are the additional needs, so France can find the means, in order to continue helping the people of Lebanon," he told reporters. A French warship arrived in Beirut on Wednesday carrying 150 tonnes of food, blankets and medicine. France has pledged 17.5 million euros in aid and is preparing 1 million euros of food aid. Israel has imposed an air and sea blockade on Lebanon since the conflict flared after Hizbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12. Several U.N. and Red Cross convoys bearing food and medical aid headed to hard-hit areas, but at least one was called off after failing to get Israeli clearance, aid officials said.

ITN Source | August 3, 2006

Tags:. .distribution. .wounded. .eastern. .confirmed. .conflict