Mideast fight ramps up despite U.N. deal

[ProSense]

Mideast fight ramps up despite U.N. deal

By SAM F. GHATTAS, Associated Press Writer 10 minutes ago

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Israel and Hezbollah sharply intensified fighting Saturday with airstrikes, rocket attacks and brutal ground fighting — an apparent bid to inflict maximum mutual damage even as the United States and France agreed on a draft U.N. resolution calling for a halt to the violence.

Even if the U.N. Security Council adopts the resolution early next week as expected, the task of winning agreement from the warring parties portended a far more bumpy diplomatic road than the one already traveled.

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Shortly after the diplomatic agreement was announced on the 25th day of the conflict, a Hezbollah Cabinet minister said militant Shiite guerrillas would not stop fighting until all Israeli troops leave Lebanon. The draft resolution makes no such demand.

"We (will) abide by it on condition that no Israeli soldier remains inside Lebanese land. If they stay, we will not abide by it," said Mohammed Fneish, one of two Hezbollah members of the government.

An Israeli Cabinet minister said Israel, too, had no intention to end its offensive for the time being.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060806/ap_on_re_mi_ea/lebanon_israel