Jordanian King Abdullah II and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf discussed the current development in the Middle East region and the crisis in Lebanon in a phone conversation on Monday.

Jordan's official news agency Petra reported that the two leaders stressed the importance of intensifying international efforts in order to achieve an immediate ceasefire and open the door for diplomatic endeavors to curb the crisis and stop bloodshed against innocent civilians.

During the phone call, Abdullah also called on Muslim countries to actively contribute to the efforts aimed at seeking a political solution to the deteriorating situation in the region.

Israel continued a massive assault in Lebanon on Monday.

Violence erupted between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah on July 12 when Hezbollah guerillas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others in cross-border attacks.

Over 300 Lebanese, most of them civilians, and 37 Israelis including 17 civilians, have been killed in the 13-day-old fighting.

Source: Xinhua