Lebanon ceasefire looms but fighting rages on

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2006

TYRE, Lebanon (AFP) — Israel launched an 11th-hour bid to crush Hezbollah with waves of deadly air strikes as the Shiite fighters unleashed a barrage of rockets just hours before a UN-brokered end to the hostilities was due to take effect.

At least 38 Lebanese civilians and four soldiers were killed by Israeli fire as warplanes kept up their deadly bombing, police and rescue workers said, while five Israeli soldiers were also killed in action.

Israel said it would stop the offensive at 8:00 am (0500 GMT) Monday in line with a Security Council resolution passed unanimously Friday calling for a full cessation of hostilities.

The Lebanese cabinet, which includes two Hezbollah representatives, also agreed to respect the accord, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's...