Annan urges quick end to Mideast fighting

Israel to allow humanitarian aid UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday called for an immediate end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon to "prevent further loss of innocent life and the infliction of further suffering."

While acknowledging Israel's right to self-defense, he accused the Jewish state of "excessive use of force."

He called for the following proposals to be carried out in parallel:

¤ The captured Israeli soldiers to be transferred to Lebanese government authorities, under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross with a view to their repatriation.

¤ An expanded peacekeeping force to be established on the Lebanese side of its border with Israel, working with the Beirut government to strengthen its army;

¤ A "mechanism" to be established of key regional and international figures to monitor and guarantee implementation of whatever agreement is reached;

¤ An international conference to delineate Lebanon's international borders with Syria and with Israel, including the disputed Shebaa Farms area. The conference would also focus on ways to help carry out Security Council resolutions calling for the disarming of militias operating on Lebanese soil and for the Lebanese government to extend its authority across all its territory.

Meanwhile, Israel agreed yesterday to allow humanitarian aid to flow into Lebanon as the Jewish state presses a major military offensive against Hizbollah guerillas, officials said. The Jewish state has imposed a blockade on Lebanon but has not stopped foreign countries from evacuating their nationals.

"Israel has been in contact with foreign governments, with the UN agencies and with relevant NGOs to try and facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to Lebanon," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.

"The Lebanese people are not our enemies and we have no intention of seeing a humanitarian disaster in Lebanon. We are working together with the international community to find practical solutions."