Ceasefire possible this week: Rice

Jerusalem: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday she was convinced an urgent ceasefire in the West Asia was possible this week.

"This morning as I head back to Washington I take with me an emerging consensus on what is necessary for both an urgent ceasefire and a long-term settlement," she told a news conference at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem.

"I'm convinced both can be achieved this week," she said.

Rice said the US would call for a resolution of the UN Security Council, which was to meet this week, on the emerging consensus.

Rice's statement comes a day after at least 57 people died in an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese village of Qana.

Israel, Lebanon and the international community agreed that the Lebanese government must be able to extend its authority over all of Lebanon and on the deployment of an international stabilisation force in southern Lebanon, she said.

There was also "broad agreement" that unauthorised armed groups should be prohibited and an international embargo on the sale of weapons to these groups should be imposed, she said referring to the Lebanese Shia Hezbollah movement.

The UN resolution would therefore include a call for an immediate ceasefire, a clause on the political principles for a long-term ceasefire and one on the international stabilisation force.

"I've been deeply grieved by the tragic losses, especially of children, both in Lebanon and Israel," Rice said.

She also welcomed Israel's agreement to a suspension of all armed activity in southern Lebanon for a 48-hour period, which includes a 24-hour safe passage enabling humanitarian aid and evacuations.

The Israeli army, meanwhile, denied Lebanese reports that Israeli jets launched an air strike in eastern Lebanon after the start of the 48-hour period.

An army spokeswoman said the strikes occurred before the implementation of the temporary cessation of bombings. The suspension of the air raids went into effect at 2.00 am on Monday (23:00 GMT Sunday) and the last air strikes in Lebanon occurred around midnight, said the spokeswoman.

Israel Radio announced that Israel plans to increase its ground forces and the mobilisation of reservists is under way.

Israel's suspension of bombardments in southern Lebanon is also to allow time to investigate the strike on the southern Lebanese village of Qana Sunday.