Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Iran Calls for Ceasefire, Prisoner Exchange in Israel-Lebanon Conflict
----------------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1312F05:3919ACA Manouchehr
Mottaki's call comes after talks with Syria's vice president Farouk
al-Sharaa, both backers of Hezbollah





Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Iran's foreign minister,
Manouchehr Mottaki, has called for a ceasefire in the fighting between
Israel and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, and a prisoner exchange.

Mottaki made the statement after talks in Damascus with Syria's vice
president Farouk al-Sharaa. Iran and Syria are the main backers of
Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is traveling to
Beirut Monday to meet with his Lebanese counterpart, Fouad Siniora,
and express support for the Lebanese government. France traditionally
has close ties to Lebanon.

Earlier today, British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for the
deployment of international forces along the border between Lebanon
and Israel to stop cross-border attacks.

Mr. Blair spoke in St. Petersburg, after meeting with United Nations
Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the sidelines of the Group of Eight
summit.

Israel says it is too early to consider sending such a force to the
border area.

In other news, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana
returned to Brussels after talks in Lebanon on the crisis. He
expressed pessimism about the prospects for an immediate ceasefire.

EU foreign ministers are holding talks today in Brussels on the rising
violence in the Middle East.

A draft resolution being considered by the ministers calls for a
de-escalation of the fighting and urges Israel not to act in a
"disproportionate" manner in its strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


.