UN should call for immediate ceasefire - Campbell

11.28.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Jul 2006

Commenting on the situation within the Middle East, Liberal Democrat Leader, Sir Menzies Campbell said "The Security Council of the UN should call for an unconditional and immediate ceasefire. The indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israel by Hezbollah is wholly unacceptable, as is the targeted destruction of the infrastructure of Lebanon by the Israeli Government.

"If there is no cessation of violence there is a real risk of conflict generation throughout the whole region. If the Government of Lebanon falls, a vacuum will be created which Hezbollah will try to fill. This is in no one's interest.

"The state of Israel has a moral and legal right to live in peace within recognised borders but that does not legitimise action which is disproportionate and amounts to collective punishment.

"The quartet of the US, the UN, Russia and the EU has a special responsibility which it must fulfil."