Rice to return to Middle East for further talks

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will return to the Mideast tomorrow for further talks on the conflict in the region.

US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will return to the Mideast tomorrow for further talks on the conflict in the region.

Speaking during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Washington today, Mr Bush announced Secretary of State Rice would return to the region tomorrow.

President Bush said said Secretary of State Rice would be charged with working with Israel and Lebanon to come up with an acceptable UN resolution on stopping hostilities, to be presented next week.

Mr Bush said he and Tony Blair had agreed that a international force for southern Lebanon should be sent quickly in order to help facilitate shipments of humanitarian aid.

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However, neither called for an immediate ceasefire.

Both men were asked at a joint news conference their message to both Iran and Syria. In a departure from his earlier position, Mr Bush said Iran needs to give up its nuclear ambitions and as for Syria, he said: "My message to Syria is: Become an active participant in the neighborhood for peace."

Mr Blair said both countries should either participate as responsible members of the international community "or they will face the risk of increasing confrontation."

Hundreds of civilians casualties and a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon have fuelled world pressure for an instant ceasefire.

Mr Blair has been under pressure at home to distance himself from his US ally and join Arab and European nations in demanding that the Lebanon war stop now.

Washington insists on finding a durable solution first - one that eliminates Hizbullah's capacity to menace Israel and thereby reduces the influence of its allies Syria and Iran.

However, UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen said it would be hard to get a ceasefire agreed without involving Iran and Syria.

France and European Union president Finland made clear yesterday they wanted an immediate truce.