57 dead, thousands flee beirut

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon killed 57 civilians and a Hizbollah fighter today, the deadliest toll of the eight-day-old war, as thousands of villagers fled North and more foreigners were evacuated.

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon killed 57 civilians and a Hizbollah fighter today, the deadliest toll of the eight-day-old war, as thousands of villagers fled North and more foreigners were evacuated.

Lebanon8217;s Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said that 300 people have been killed, 1,000 wounded and a half-million displaced in Israel8217;s week-old onslaught on Lebanon.

Speaking to a gathering of foreign ambassadors, Saniora said he would seek compensation from Israel for the 8216;8216;unimaginable losses8217;8217; to the nation8217;s infrastructure. He also made an urgent appeal for an end to the fighting, saying Lebanon 8216;8216;has been torn to shreds.8217;8217;

Israeli troops crossed the border to raid Hizbollah posts and Hizbollah television said three Israeli soldiers were killed and 10 wounded in clashes with the Shi8217;ite Muslim guerrillas. Israeli medics said earlier two Israeli soldiers had been wounded in the fighting. Security sources in Lebanon said the clashes occurred during one of three cross-border incursions by Israeli forces.

More Hizbollah rockets fell on the Israeli city of Haifa and one hit an empty seafront restaurant. A few people were hurt.

Hizbollah said it had also rocketed an Israeli air force base at Ramat David, about 35 km inside Israel, and the town of Nahariya. The Israeli Army said no base was hit.

Despite international diplomatic efforts, there was no sign Israel or its Lebanese Shi8217;ite foes were ready to heed the Beirut government8217;s pleas for an immediate halt to a war that has cost at least 292 lives in Lebanon and 25 in Israel.

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Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said the bombardment would last 8216;8216;as long as necessary8217;8217; to free two soldiers captured by Hizbollah guerrillas on July 12 and ensure the Shi8217;ite Muslim group is disarmed.

At least 17 Lebanese were killed and 30 wounded in an Israeli air strike that destroyed houses in the village of Srifa, residents said.

Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat said Israel was trying to destroy Lebanon8217;s infrastructure, not just to defeat Hizbollah. 8216;8216;Are they turning it into a second Iraq?8217;8217; he asked.

The conflict has forced about 100,000 Lebanese to flee their homes. Displaced families packed into pick-up trucks and cars, many flying white flags, drove from border areas towards Sidon to try to escape the violence.

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Panicked foreigners flooded out of the country. Nine military ships and thousands of marines and sailors were involved in a US evacuation, US officials said. Over 2,400 Americans are to be transported by air and sea today.

Meanwhile, Israeli television reported today that witnesses said they saw an Israeli soldier apparently kidnapped while he was hitchhiking north of Tel Aviv.The army said it was checking the reports but had no immediate comment or details.