MILF rebels call for Mideast ceasefire
text HADER GLANG

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has called for the immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, which has been under Israeli attack for four weeks.

“This bloodbath must stop immediately and without precondition and Israel must withdraw to the position where it was at the start of the war on July 12,” said Muhammad Ameen, head of MILF’s Central Committee secretariat.

Israel launched a devastating offensive against Lebanon early last month following the capture of two Israeli soldiers by the Shiite Lebanese militia, Hezbollah.

Ameen also called on the United States and Britain to exert all efforts to pressure Israel to agree on the call for a ceasefire, saying that only the US could pressure Israel to agree to declaration of an immediate ceasefire.

“The resolution was moved by the increasing deaths of civilians especially children and women and the widespread destructions caused by the indiscriminate air strikes, bombardments, and rocket attacks to government and private properties and other infrastructures particularly in Lebanon, where the Israelis have already used all weapons in their arsenal to crash the Hezbollah. Only atomic weapons are not yet used in present conflict,” according to Ameen.

The Lebanese government reports said at least 880 civilians have been killed so far in addition to 27 police or government troops. Four UN observers and a peacekeeper have also been killed. Another reports said about 3,000 wounded in Lebanon, and 1,400 wounded in Israel. (ZS)