Visiting French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy called on Monday for an immediate ceasefire between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel.

Speaking at a new conference after meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Douste-Blazy urged all parties to show "courage and responsibility needed" for putting an end to the fighting.

What happened in the Qana village should be avoided to prevent more civilian casualties, said the minister.

An Israeli airstrike early Sunday on a three-story building in the southern town of Qana killed 56 people, most of them women and children.

An immediate end to hostilities was a condition for relevant parties to talk to each other, to negotiate and reach a political agreement, Douste-Blazy said.

"We can see clearly today, since July 12, that Israel will not reach its goals by a purely military solution," he noted.

Douste-Blazy said France was "ready to participate" in an international force in southern Lebanon after a political agreement on ceasefire is reached between relevant parties.

He also said Iran was crucial to the stability of the Middle East and it was important to maintain contacts with Tehran as part of efforts to resolve the crisis in Lebanon.

Source: Xinhua