Egypt on Sunday presented to a number of international and Arab parties ideas aimed at reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, the official MENA news agency reported.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit held contacts with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and the foreign ministers of Italy, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Canada, China and Japan over possible ways to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Shiite group Hezbollah, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alaa el-Hadidi was quoted as saying.

In addition, Abul Gheit was continuing his contacts with officials from Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United States, said el- Hadidi.

The ideas proposed by Egypt include a call for a ceasefire, a prisoner swap, respect for Lebanon's sovereignty and independence and tackling all related issues through diplomatic channels, the spokesman added.

Egypt also suggested increasing the number of peacekeeping troops in south Lebanon, he said.

Violence between Israel and Lebanon's Shiite group Hezbollah, which erupted on July 12 when Hezbollah guerillas abducted two Israeli soldiers in cross-border attacks, entered the 12th day on Sunday.

More than 300 Lebanese and 37 Israelis have been killed in firefights between the two sides, while tens of thousands of foreign nationals have been fleeing Lebanon.

Source: Xinhua