U.S. President George W. Bush called on Sunday for a "sustainable peace" after Israeli air strikes killed over 50 people, about half of them children, in the Lebanese village of Qana.

"Our hope for peace for boys and girls everywhere extends across the world, especially in the Middle East," Bush said before the start of a children's baseball game in the White House.

"Today's actions in the Middle East remind us that friends and allies must work together for a sustainable peace particularly for the sake of children," Bush said.

White House spokesman Tony Snow has urged Israeli restraint in its military actions against Hezbollah.

The United States has refused to condemn the military action by Israel against Lebanon since July 12 by claiming that Israel is defending itself against Hezbollah, a group branded by the United States as terrorist.

Source: Xinhua