By Irwin Arieff - Reuters - July 20, 2006

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday called for an immediate end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon to "prevent further loss of innocent life and the infliction of further suffering."

A quick end to the fighting also would allow aid workers to reach those in need and would "give diplomacy the chance to work out a practical package of actions that would provide a lasting solution to the current crisis," Annan told the U.N. Security Council.

A U.N. team he sent to the region in search of ways to ease the crisis has concluded that a sustainable ceasefire agreement would be "difficult to achieve at this time," requiring instead a temporary cessation of hostilities, the U.N. leader said.

It was clear the Lebanese government had no advance knowledge of the July 12 Hizbollah attack in which guerrillas entered Israel to capture two Israeli soldiers, he said.

While Hizbollah says its actions aim to defend Palestinian and Lebanese interests, they "in fact do neither."

"On the contrary they hold an entire nation hostage, set back prospects for negotiation of a comprehensive Middle East peace," he said.

While acknowledging Israel`s right to self-defense, he accused the Jewish state of "excessive use of force."

"Whatever damage Israel`s operations may be doing to Hizbollah`s military capabilities, they are doing little or nothing to decrease popular support for Hizbollah in Lebanon or the region, but are doing a great deal to weaken the government of Lebanon," Annan said. 

He called for the following proposals to be carried out in parallel:

-- The captured Israeli soldiers to be transferred to Lebanese government authorities, under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross with a view to their repatriation.

-- An expanded peacekeeping force to be established on the Lebanese side of its border with Israel, working with the Beirut government to strengthen its army.

-- A "mechanism" to be established of key regional and international figures to monitor and guarantee implementation of whatever agreement is reached.

-- An international conference to delineate Lebanon`s international borders with Syria and with Israel, including the disputed Shebaa Farms area. The conference would also focus on ways to help carry out Security Council resolutions calling for the disarming of militias operating on Lebanese soil and for the Lebanese government to extend its authority across all its territory