Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf Monday strongly condemned Israeli killing innocent lives in Lebanon, and called for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to the conflict.

"The issue has to be resolved through talks and the Palestinian people have to get their own homeland," the president told a public gathering of thousands in eastern Pakistani district of Chakwal after the inauguration of the Choa Saidan Shah Cadet College, around 110 km from the capital Islamabad.

"We strongly condemn the Israeli attack against Lebanon, and the killing of innocent civilians including women and children," he said.

He said the people and government of Pakistan stood by their Lebanese brethren in their hour of trial.

Referring to the country's political situation, Musharraf said that for the first time in country's history, both the national and provincial assemblies will complete their full five-year term and the general election will be held in 2007.

Musharraf urged the nation to stand united against all those who were creating feelings of hatred and extremism in the society and asked them to support those who are moderate and support tolerance.

More than 50 Lebanese civilians, most of them children, were killed in the Israeli airstrike on Qana in Lebanon on early Monday, drawing international condemnation and stepped-up calls for a ceasefire.

Source: Xinhua