Aug. 1, 2006 0:54
Iranian FM calls for immediate cease fire
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIRUT, Lebanon
Iran's foreign minister on Monday called for an immediate cease-fire to the Israeli-Hizbullah fighting and criticized the UN Security Council's failure to stop the crisis.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki spoke after holding talks with his Lebanese counterpart in Beirut in the first visit by an Iranian official to war-torn Lebanon since fighting broke out between Israel and Hizbullah guerrillas nearly three weeks ago.
Mottaki arrived over land from neighboring Syria, border officials said. It was not immediately known if he planned to meet Hizbullah's leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah as he traditionally has done on past visits to Lebanon.