"This wanton act was perpetrated in gross defiance of all norms of international law and civilized behavior," a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

It deserves outright condemnation by the entire international community, he added.

The spokesman observed that the invasion of Lebanon and the spiraling escalation of bombings and artillery attack by sea, air and land are clearly, if not overwhelmingly, disproportionate to the act that triggered the Israeli response.

He said Israel's militaristic action stands exposed, above and beyond its brutal occupation of Palestine and Arab lands.

"Such reckless attacks on civilians remain on record as a crime against humanity," the spokesman said.