'Hostilities must end'

An immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East and the resumption of dialogue must be the paramount objectives, Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said in a statement on the unfolding crisis yesterday.

The Minister called for the "immediate and unconditional" release of the abducted Israeli soldiers by Hizbollah and condemned the firing of rockets from Lebanese territory into Israeli cities.

He said Malta condemned Israel's "disproportionate" reaction, which resulted in several civilian casualties, massive displacement of Lebanese citizens and great damage to the country's infrastructure.

Today Dr Frendo will participate in an extraordinary meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council together with the other 24 EU foreign ministers. The council will try to positively contribute to the international efforts for an immediate halt to hostilities and the return of diplomacy in the Middle East.

"The Maltese government expresses its preoccupation at the escalating developments in the Middle East, which have inexorably led to a rapid deterioration in the overall humanitarian situation. We profoundly regret the loss of human life. The destabilising situation in Lebanon and Gaza poses a serious threat to peace and security in the region and beyond, and could have irrevocable long-term consequences," he said.

The Minister said Malta welcomed the Rome international conference's statement that an international force in Lebanon should urgently be authorised through a United Nations mandate to support the Lebanese armed forces in providing a secure environment.

However, he said, an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon was also vital to prevent further loss of innocent lives.

Referring to the 48-hour suspension of air strikes over southern Lebanon to investigate the tragic killing of more than 60 civilians in Qana, Dr Frendo said one would have hoped that such a suspension would have taken place earlier.

He expressed hope that the suspension will be consolidated into a complete cessation of hostilities to enable relief workers to continue evacuating the elderly, young and wounded and getting in emergency aid supplies.

Dr Frendo added that the international community could not let the worrying events in Gaza fade into the background.

Meanwhile, the Labour spokesman for Foreign Affairs and IT, Leo Brincat, made an urgent call for a permanent halt to the fighting in Lebanon to put an end to the number of innocent people who are losing their lives or facing a humanitarian crisis.

Mr Brincat described what has been happening in Lebanon as the use of force without restraint; the death of innocent people with the excuse of the birth of a new Middle East; and the total destruction of Lebanon by the Israeli forces with the blessing of the US and the excuse of restraining the Hizbollah movement.

Israel's decision to continue its attacks should be condemned outright, he said, while the international community could not remain idle in the face of the destruction of the sovereignty of Lebanon, Mr Brincat insisted.

He also appealed to the government to make its voice heard in a decisive manner in international fora in favour of peace in Lebanon.