Bush urges Israel to 'limit harm'
14th July 2006
US President George Bush has said he will urge Israel to avoid civilian casualties in its attacks on Lebanon.
But he did not say he would demand an end to Israel's bombardment, according to the office of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
President Jacques Chirac of France called Israel's acts "disproportionate" while Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an end to fighting.
Mr Putin, who is hosting a meeting of the G8 group of top industrialised countries in St Petersburg, said "all sides implicated in this conflict should immediately stop military action," Interfax news agency reported.
...Mr Bush has not publicly criticised Israel's actions, but told Mr Siniora in a telephone call that he would urge Israel to limit the damage.
Mr Chirac criticised the Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah, which has captured two Israeli soldiers, and the Palestinian Hamas, which has another, saying they were engaged in a process of "provocation-repression".
"These people are totally irresponsible,"he said.
But he said Israel's response was "completely disproportionate", adding: "One can ask oneself whether there isn't a sort of desire to destroy Lebanon."
