White Houses urges restraint

2006-07-30 22:40

Washington - The White House offered condolences on Sunday for the deaths of at least 60 civilians in Israeli air raids on the Lebanese village of Qana, and insisted that only a permanent ceasefire would prevent the additional loss of innocent life.

"This was a horrible event," chief White House spokesperson Tony Snow told reporters on Sunday.

"Once again, as always, we're concerned about the loss of innocent civilian life," he said.

"Not only do we feel sorrow for what happened in Qana, but also a determination that it is really important to remove the conditions that led to that," Snow said, restating US President George W Bush's view that similar tragedies are preventable only after the Hezbollah militant group is neutralised.

"You've got Hezbollah operating independently, that has been able to go ahead and to engage Israel," the White House spokesperson said.

"We want (Lebanon's) Prime Minister Fuad Siniora to have effective control over all of his territory. That has always been the goal and that will continue to be to goal," Snow said.

In an earlier White House statement, spokesperson Blair Jones said Washington urged Israeli to use restraint in its military actions in Lebanon.

"This was a terrible and tragic incident. We continue to urge the Israeli government to exercise the utmost care, so as to avoid any civilian casualties.

This tragic incident shows why this is so critical," Jones said.

- AFP