The African Union (AU) on Monday strongly condemned Israel's deadly attack on the southern Lebanese village of Qana and urged an immediate ceasefire in the conflict.

In a statement issued from the AU headquarters, AU Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare said he was "saddened and shocked by the deadly and indiscriminate bombing" of the village.

He condemned "in the strongest terms, this attack, which cannot be justified under any circumstances and runs contrary to the basic norms of international humanitarian law."

Konare urged Israel "to put an immediate end to its ongoing military campaign and to fully cooperate with the international community in order to achieve a lasting solution to the current crisis."

"Any further delay in securing a ceasefire would only compound an already delicate situation and increase the risk of further instability in the region, with far reaching consequences within and beyond the Middle East."

In the statement, the AU boss strongly appealed to the UN Security Council and all concerned members of the international community "to fully assume their responsibilities by bringing to an immediate end the ongoing violence."

At least 52 people were killed on Sunday, including 30 children, in Israeli air strikes that destroyed houses in Qana.

Source: Xinhua