While diplomats at the UN struggled yesterday to agree a response to the spiralling violence in Lebanon, the US announced the dispatch on Friday to the region of secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. But Israel yesterday again bombed targets in Lebanon, killing 31 people, including nine family members in a single strike, bringing the overall death toll to 235. Peter Hirschberg in Jerusalem and Stephen Collins, Political Correspondent report.
And Hizbullah continued its rocket barrage, killing one person as 80 rockets fell on towns in northern Israel in the course of an hour.
Calling on European countries to contribute to an intervention force, UN secretary general Kofi Annan insisted in Brussels that "it is urgent that the international community acts to make a difference on the ground".
Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said yesterday it was "too early" to discuss the idea of an international peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, and he accused Hizbullah and Iran of co-ordinating the abduction of two Israeli soldiers last week to help Tehran divert attention from its nuclear programme.
Earlier in the day, foreign minister Tzipi Livni had intimated Israel might accept a temporary international force. "We will consider other solutions put forward," she said, after meeting with a special UN delegation.
A request for Irish participation would be given "the most profound consideration", President Mary McAleese said yesterday in Vienna. Stressing that she did not wish to "pre-empt" the decision, she felt it would be very seriously considered.
But, in Dublin, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said that while any request would be considered, Ireland did not have the resources available to some of the UN Security Council members.
The Minister was questioned at the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs by Labour defence spokesman Joe Costello over his comment in Brussels a day earlier that Irish peacekeeping resources were already "stretched".
Mr Costello insisted the Minister had effectively ruled out Irish participation in the mission.
"We should make it clear that we will do our duty if the Security Council calls on us," said Mr Costello, who added it would be necessary to recall the Dáil to approve any such decision.
Senator Terry Leyden of Fianna Fáil said Ireland had lost at least 40 soldiers in Lebanon over the years. "We don't want to be dragged back there again," he added.