RUSSIA: The G8 group of industrial nations last night called for all sides to end the fighting in the Middle East, proposing a detailed list of requirements for all sides.
After a dispute that saw US president George Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin deliver very different messages on Saturday, all sides insisted they spoke with one voice, blaming "extremists" for the violence.
"The immediate crisis results from efforts by extremist forces to destabilise the region," said the statement. "These extremist elements and those that support them cannot be allowed to plunge the Middle East into chaos and provoke a wider conflict."
But it also calls for Israel to show restraint: "It is also critical that Israel, while exercising the right to defend itself, be mindful of the strategic and humanitarian consequences of its actions."
The G8 said it would work with the UN to support efforts to stop the violence, and has asked UN officials to draw up plans for a possible monitoring force to patrol southern Lebanon.
No details of the size of this force have been agreed, but officials here say they want to find a means to prevent Hizbullah from launching further rocket strikes into Israel. The statement represents a victory for President Bush in placing the blame for the violence on terrorists: "I repeat, this started because Hizbullah decided to capture two Israeli soldiers and fire hundreds of rockets into Israel from southern Lebanon," he said. "That's the cause of the crisis." But there is acute concern here at the St Petersburg summit that the violence may spread across the Middle East, particularly if civilian casualties mount on both sides.
"Our message to Israel is, look, defend yourself, but as you do so, be mindful of the consequences," said Mr Bush. Britain and France said any ceasefire must be part of a wider process of negotiating a more general peace. "The only way we are going to get this situation calm and we're going to get the cessation of hostilities is if we address the reasons why the situation has arisen," said Mr Blair.
The statement calls for the return of Israeli soldiers taken captive in Gaza and Lebanon, the end of shelling of Israeli territory, the end of Israeli military operations and a withdrawal from Gaza, as well as the release of captured Palestinian officials.
"This isn't about producing a quick fix, but it's about producing a sustainable peace," said one summit official.
On Saturday, Mr Bush clashed with Mr Putin after he blamed the fighting on extremists, while his Russian counterpart insisted both sides were to blame. But amid anxiety that a split would worsen the violence, summit leaders yesterday hammered out a common position.
"The G8 was not only not too divided to reach agreement, it has reached a detailed agreement," said one official. "What we have is a united G8."