She has, however, not yet come out with the statement that there has to be an immediate ceasefire. She was already in Israel and talking to the Israeli defense minister when this ghastly attack took place. The question is, did this deliberate attack take place with the immediate approval of the defense minister? Secretary Rice, however, later said she was deeply saddened by the death of so many people and would continue to talk to Israeli officials to find a set of elements that could lead to the end of hostilities.

She said she had cancelled her visit to Beirut though the reports show that Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora earlier called her up immediately after Qana massacre and asked for an immediate ceasefire adding that there could be no talks before the ceasefire takes place. He said that the "situation is unbearable" and asked immediate meeting of the UN Security Council to consider the Lebanese request for immediate ceasefire. He also reportedly said that she was not welcome to Beirut and that apparently led her to say that she cancelled her visit.

After the Israeli attack resulting in the death of so many civilians, Israeli spokes woman said: "We are deeply saddened and sorrowful" at the death of so many people. This was a mistake." But she did try to justify by saying that Hezbollah deliberately operates under civilian cover and sends rockets from civilian areas, which often leads to civilian casualties. She tried to emphasize that Israel did not target this 4-storey apartment building.

It targeted a place nearby from where Hezbollah has been firing Katyusha rockets for the last two and half weeks. But the CNN reporter on July 30 reported that he had been visiting all these areas in Tyre including Qana town (about 16 km from Tyre) during the last week and he did not see anything like Hezbollah firing rockets from any of those places. He said very categorically that Hezbollah is a very "secretive" type of organization and extremely smart and does not operate from civilian areas. His statement appeared valid as Hezbollah has been operating from hill-top villages like Mamoun al Ras and Bint Jbeil and not Tyre or its surrounding areas. Indeed, Israel faced defeat in Bint Jbeil in the hands of Hezbollah and that forced Israel to retreat from Bint Jbeil.

There were spontaneous protests within Lebanon and around the Arab world. In Beirut, thousands of Lebanese agitating against Israeli attack forcefully broke the security barrier and entered the UN compound and damaged the windows, doors and other structures. Their anger at the UN was probably for the reason that it could not stop the Israeli onslaught that led to such a massacre. This appears true as UNSG himself said pointing to Beirut protest that "People have noticed [UN] failure to act firmly and quickly during this crisis."

But after a while Hezbollah leaders appeared at the scene and asked the agitating crowd to vacate the compound which they did after a while. This only shows the power controlling authority of Hezbollah and its ability to stop unruly behaviour. This further confirms what the CNN reporter said earlier that Hezbollah do not involve civilians in their attacks against Israel. Israel, however, always projects to the outside world that Hezbollah operates under civilian cover which appears to be nothing but Israeli falsehood to cover up their heinous crimes.

There was global uproar against and condemnation of Israeli air attack that killed innocent women and children who took shelter at the basement of an apartment building at Qana town of Lebanon. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said "nothing can justify" the deadly bombing of Qana by Israel. "I have talked to the prime minister of Lebanon, Mr. Fuad Siniora. I have expressed to him my profound dismay and deep sorrow at the attack and the death of innocent civilians in Qana. I have transmitted to him that the European Union is continuously working to reach an immediate ceasefire."

The United Nations spokesperson condemned the Israeli attack, saying he was "deeply shocked and saddened by the killing of tens of Lebanese civilians including many children in Qana, south Lebanon, and calls for immediate ceasefire and investigations. Civilians have been paying the heavy price for this war and I reiterate calls by the secretary general of the United Nations to all parties concerned to respect international humanitarian laws and spare the civilians further suffering and loss."

The US, however, said that US position has not changed. Israel has the "right to defence." President Bush was still insisting on "sustainable peace" and so far had no word on this horrific Israeli bombing killing women and children. British PM Tony Blair also apparently continued to support President Bush and talked about longer term solution of the conflict. Every body wants longer term solution but it is absolutely necessary to have the immediate ceasefire so that people could sit and talk about the longer term solution. If the massacre continues how could one have discussions on resolution of the conflict? French President Chirac condemned the "unjustified action" by Israel. Jordan's King Abdullah termed it an "ugly crime." Spain condemned the attack.

The emergency meeting of the UN Security Council talked for hours but failed to agree to condemn Israel for this ghastly attack. The US was opposing any specific mention of Israel in the condemnation. Ultimately, a watered down statement from the president of the UN was agreed saying "extreme shock and distress" at the death. There was no call for immediate ceasefire though the UNSG earlier called for it. The US was still resisting the call for an immediate ceasefire. This is what is the UN today; it is all US affair. What ever the US wants, it can get it done. The whole world is helpless against the US veto.

The problems get compounded because of Israel and its occupation and the unilateral policies of the US that led to devastations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the veto that has crippled the UN. This organization has turned out to be something useless for the world in general. It is high time to dismantle the UN and go for a new UN without veto; else there should be regional organizations without veto that can take care of the problems regionally without the influence of the veto wielding powers.

Israel has agreed to go for 48 hours cessation of bombing to allow the UN to arrange transfer of residents of south Lebanon to a safer place and provide aid to displaced Lebanese which has reached over 800,000. It could also be a temporary halt as Israel probably wanted to replenish its stock of precision bombs that can kill more people in Lebanon and Palestinian territory.

The US has already sent the stock by air. The 747 flight from Texas (is it a special one from Bush's own state?) to Tel Aviv with all these arms and ammunitions and precision bombs will land, with the government permission, at Glasgow Prestwick airport. British people are generally against such flights and there was a plan to hold demonstration against the flight and its landing at a British airport.

If the US can directly supply such weapons to Israel during the war, then why should Syria and Iran be blamed for supply of rockets to Hezbollah? Hezbollah said it would avenge the Qana massacre. One does not know whether any ceasefire would at all be in place in the near future or free style killing of civilians would continue unabated leading to a "New Middle East."

If the US is really interested to have a "New Middle East" with "sustainable peace" then occupation must end. It should be the end of occupation by both Israel and the US. So far as Lebanon and Palestine are concerned, Israel has to withdraw and go beyond 1967 border with some small land adjustments around East Jerusalem (ref. my detailed suggestions on the land adjustments in my earlier comments) and handing over of Sheba Farms to Lebanon.

The Middle East also includes Iraq and there the US has to end its occupation. In short, all occupations must end to have a "New Middle East." The alternative would be a disaster for everyone including the present regimes in the region. From now on the Arab street is likely to be very hot. The radicals will continue to gain strength and ultimately they will take over. Whether it would lead to democracy or anything else, nobody can say at this stage, but the US and Israel would be mainly responsible for such turn of events. For Israel it could be still more unpredictable. Both Hamas and Hezbollah may join hands and continue to push for their aim of one state solution.

Muslehuddin Ahmad is a former Secretary and Ambassador and Founder President (VC) of North South University. He is also Chairman of Civic Watch & Citizens' Forum Against Corruption.