Hezbollah rejects Rice effort

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 31 (UPI) -- A Hezbollah member of Lebanon's parliament Monday reportedly rejected any U.S. plan for a buffer or security zone between Lebanon and Israel.

In an interview with the Arab TV Al-Jazeera, Hassan Fadlallah said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice can easily bring about a cease-fire but added, "It seems as though Rice is not satisfied with the killing of children that occurred in Qana (site of recent Israeli bombing)," reports Ynetnews.com.

Fadlallah said, "Rice cannot decide for Lebanon what Lebanon must do, and won't be able to impose a buffer zone or security area on Lebanon."

He was quoted as saying Lebanon's stance is that the aggression must first end and only after that "we may discuss all other clauses." He accused United States of not condemning what happened in Qana. "We even heard condemnations from Israeli journalists, but not from the U.S."

Lebanon's Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh also was quoted as saying there was nothing in Rice's proposal. "She already presented them in discussions she held with us during her visit last week. He also said there should first be an immediate cease-fire. "From there, we may discuss all the other issues."