The Lebanese government said on Wednesday that it was not responsible for Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers and demanded an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on Israel's retaliation.

"The Lebanese government was not informed and does not take responsibility for what happened on the international border," Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said after an urgent cabinet meeting.

"The government strongly condemns the Israeli aggression which targeted government infrastructure and civilians," Aridi told reporters, adding that the government calls for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council "to deal with these aggressions."

On Wednesday morning, Hezbollah militants seized two Israeli soldiers when they attacked two Israeli army jeeps patrolling along the border with Lebanon, demanding that Israel release prisoners held in Israeli jails in exchange for the two soldiers.

Eight Israeli soldiers and four Lebanese civilians were also killed in the Wednesday clash.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday that he held the Lebanese government responsible for the two soldiers' safety, saying their abduction was an act of war against Israel that would draw a "very painful" response.

Source: Xinhua