In an emotional televised speech, Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora called on the United Nations to broker an immediate cease-fire between Hizbullah and Israel to end the latter's land, sea and air offensive against Lebanon.
He also pledged to reassert government authority all over Lebanese territory. That would meet a repeated U.N. and U.S. demand.
According to the AP, Lebanon sought support from fellow Arabs at an emergency meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo on Saturday. But sharp rifts erupted over as some Arab states denounced Hizbullah for starting the conflict.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal called the Hizbullah's actions "unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible," telling his counterparts: "These acts will pull the whole region back to years ago, and we cannot simply accept them."
Supporting his stance were representatives of Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, delegates said. Another camp, led by Syria, defended Hizbullah as carrying out "legitimate acts in line with international resolutions and the U.N. charter, as acts of resistance," delegates said.
