Lebanon appeals for international help to end war, more than 300 killed, 1000 wounded

LEBANON: Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called on the international community on Wednesday to intervene to end an Israeli onslaught against the country and to rush in badly needed humanitarian aid.

"I call on you to respond immediately and without reservation to our call for a ceasefire and to provide urgent international humanitarian aid," Siniora said in a televised appeal to the international community.

"I hope you won't let us down."

He said more than 300 people had been killed and 1,000 wounded in the eight-day-old Israeli assault. He said more than 500,000 Lebanese had been displaced.

Siniora added that hospitals had been crippled and there were shortages in food and medical supplies.

Meanwhile Israeli air strikes on Lebanon killed 57 civilians and a Hizbollah fighter on Wednesday, the deadliest toll of the eight-day-old war, as thousands of villagers fled north and more foreigners were evacuated.

Hizbollah rockets killed two children in the northern city of Nazareth, medics said. More Hizbollah rockets fell on the city of Haifa and one hit an empty seafront restaurant.

Israeli troops crossed the border to raid Hizbollah posts and the Israeli army said two of its soldiers were killed and nine injured in fighting with Hizbollah guerrillas.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the bombardment would last "as long as necessary" to free two soldiers captured by Hizbollah guerrillas on July 12.

BEIRUT, Wednesday, Reuters