The United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Sunday that he condemn "in the strongest possible terms" Israel's attack on Sunday on a Lebanese village that killed at least 54 civilians, mostly children.

"I am deeply dismayed that my earlier calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities were not heeded, with the result that innocent life continues to be taken and innocent civilians continue to suffer," Annan said addressing an emergency Security Council meeting on Lebanon.

The UN chief renewed his call once again and appeal to the Security Council to do likewise.

"I reiterate my call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, to allow desperately needed humanitarian relief to reach the victims," he said.

"While that is happening, we can work together on the political framework needed for a lasting cease-fire and a sustainable solution: the strengthening of Lebanon's government, the disarming of all militias, and the implementation of all Security Council resolutions, including 1559 and 1680," he added.

The UN chief pledged his willingness to work with all the concerned parties in the development and strive for the deployment of a stabilization force to support the Lebanese government.

Annan said the tragic events in the Lebanese village of Qana remind the international community that ten years ago over 100 people who had taken refuse in this very same village suffered a similar fate. "We must deliver the region from this seemingly endless cycle of violence," he said.

It is important to stress that both sides in this conflict bear a heavy responsibility, and there is strong evidence that both have committed grave breaches of international humanitarian law, the Secretary-General said.

Annan noted that Hezbollah has continued firing rockets indiscriminately into northern Israel, from positions apparently located in the midst of the civilian population. However, while acknowledging its right to self defense, Annan said Israel, by its manner of doing so had caused and is causing death and suffering on a "wholly unacceptable scale."

He said the most urgent need is to bring the fighting to a halt without further delay. For that the Security Council has a solemn responsibility.

"The authority and standing of this Council are at stake. People have noticed its failure to act firmly and quickly during this crisis," he said.

He noted that the incident that some Lebanese people broke into UN headquarters in Beirut on Sunday, briefly setting fire and injuring some staff members is in part of an expression of frustration at the organization.

"For the sake of the people and this organization, I urge you to act, and act now," Annan said.

Israeli missiles hit several buildings in the southern Lebanese village of Qana Sunday, killing at least 54, mostly children, in the deadliest attack in 19 days of fighting. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora asked UNSecretary-General Kofi Annan to hold an emergency Security Council meeting to arrange for an immediate cease-fire after the Qana strike.

Source: Xinhua