President Bush said today he would seek UN action this week on ending the fighting in southern Lebanon but resisted an immediate ceasefire despite growing pressure.
George Bush
"We will work toward a plan at the United Nations Security Council that addresses the root causes of the problem so that whatever comes out of the Security Council will be able to last and that the people of Lebanon and Israel will be able to remain in peace," Mr Bush said.
"We want there to be a long lasting peace, one that is sustainable," he said.
International pressure for an immediate ceasefire increased after Israel's bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana yesterday that killed at least 54 civilians.
The United Nations has said it will need further security guarantees from all sides before boosting relief efforts in southern Lebanon, and that a 48-hour partial suspension of Israeli air strikes did not go far enough.
A UN official said the United Nations was seeking security guarantees from all sides for UN and other aid workers.