A CEASEFIRE between Israel and Hizbullah was reported to be imminent last night after indications that both sides were prepared to silence their weapons in south Lebanon.
In Moscow, world leaders meeting for a Group of Seven industrialised nations (G7) summit demanded a Middle East cease-fire and said four of their foreign ministers would meet in the Syrian capital, Damascus, today to discuss its implementation.
A spokeswoman for President Jacques Chirac of France said the foreign ministers of Russia, the United States, France and Italy would meet in Damascus.
Earlier yesterday the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Shimon Peres, said he believed a ceasefire was near, and the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr Rafiq al-Hariri, said he and Syria were in contact with Hizbullah, seeking a ceasefire "within hours".
At Qana in southern Lebanon, the scene of Thursday's shelling by Israeli forces, the death toll rose above 100 as more victims died of their injuries. A UN spokeswoman said that accurate figures could not be given at this stage because it was not clear how many people were removed from the UN post in the 75 body bags taken out on Thursday.
Yesterday there was no let-up in the action, with the Israelis shelling the route connecting Beirut and Sidon from missile boats, while Hizbullah continued to launch Katyusha rockets at northern Israel.
So far 162 people have died in Israel's Operation Grapes of Wrath whose stated aim was to stop Hizbullah rocket attacks on northern Israel. Among the dead are 151 Lebanese civilians, four Hizbullah guerillas, four Syrian soldiers, two Israeli soldiers and one Lebanese soldier.
Syria, Lebanon and Israel all talked up the prospect of an early ceasefire last night, with Mr Peres and Mr al-Hariri both quoted as saying they expected a ceasefire within hours.
However, the position of Iran, a major influence on Hizbullah, remained. unclear. A belligerent statement from Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, urging continued Hizbullah attacks, was offset by news that the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Akbar Velayati, was on his way to Damascus for talks, including a meeting with the French Foreign Minister, Mr Herve de Charette.
Meanwhile in Dublin, the Minister for Defence, Mr Barrett, confirmed that the first 210 of the 633 troops of the next Irish battalion to serve in Lebanon will set off on Tuesday as planned. The remainder will depart over the following two weeks.
The Government yesterday announced an emergency allocation of £200,000 in response to a UN appeal for funds for humanitarian relief in south Lebanon.
A senior Irish official is part of the EU troika mission - representing the immediate past, present and future presidencies led by the Italian Foreign Minister, Ms Susanna Agnelli, in the Middle East this weekend. EU foreign ministers are to meet in Luxembourg on Monday, when they will receive a report on the visit.
Separate US and French peace plans are still forming the basis for this weekend's intensive discussions.
Syria has indicated that it favours the French plan for a return to a 1993 agreement between Hizbullah and Israel which banned attacks against civilians.
A separate US plan suggests that Israeli forces would begin negotiating a complete withdrawal within nine months, on condition that the Lebanese government showed it could prevent further Hizbullah attacks on northern Israel
The US plan differs from the French in that it would rule out Hizbullah attacks on Israeli troops occupying south Lebanon. Syria is concerned that this implies some recognition of Israel's right to be there.
The United States said yesterday it was investigating a report that an American had been kidnapped in the West Bank and would be killed if Israel did not withdraw its troops from Lebanon immediately.