U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Monday that a deal to end military conflicts between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas could be forged this week, but Israel said the same day that there is no ceasefire with Lebanon in the coming days.

Speaking to reporters before winding up her Middle East mission, Rice said she would call for a UN resolution on the ceasefire this week. She said she would also call for the establishment of an international force for Lebanon.

"As I head back to Washington, I take with me an emerging consensus on what is necessary for both an urgent ceasefire and a lasting settlement," Rice said. "I am convinced we can achieve both this week."

The top U.S. diplomat said the UN resolution should include a ceasefire, political components to address issues that have repeatedly triggered conflicts between Lebanon and Israel, and the authorization of an international force to help secure Lebanon.

Rice also welcomed Israel's decision on a 48-hour suspension of its air strikes in southern Lebanon and hoped that the suspension would be renewed.

Israel on Monday agreed on an 48-hour suspension, effective immediately, of its air strikes in southern Lebanon.

The agreement was reached after Rice's talks with top Israeli officials, said U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli.

Ereli also revealed that Israel would coordinate with the UN on a 24-hour period of "safe passage" for civilians wishing to leave southern Lebanon.

Israeli daily Ha'aretz also reported that Israel has agreed to suspend its air strike of southern Lebanon for 48 hours to allow for an investigation into Sunday's bombing of Qana village in southern Lebanon, which killed 56 people, mostly women and children.

But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at a meeting of mayors in Tel Aviv late Monday that there is no ceasefire with Lebanese Hezbollah in the coming days.

"There is no ceasefire and there will be no ceasefire in the coming days," he told the mayors, adding the fighting with Hezbollah is continuing.

The offensive against Hezbollah would end only when it ceases being a threat to Israel, said Olmert.

"Israel is continuing to fight. We will stop the war when the (rocket) threat is removed ..., our captive soldiers return home in peace, and you are able to live in safety and security," he said.

He said that although Hezbollah's operational capability has been severely damaged, Israel should still keep alert for missiles and rockets in the coming days.

Israel had no choice but to begin its attacks on Hezbollah after the guerrillas carried out their cross-border attack, in which eight other soldiers were killed, he said.

Early on Tuesday, the Israeli security cabinet voted to expand Israel's ground operation in south Lebanon. Defense Minister Amir Peretz also told the parliament on Monday that the army would expand its offensive against Hezbollah.

At the same time, Israeli warplanes bombarded a garrison of Hezbollah in northeastern Lebanon early Tuesday and hit the road leading to Syria, Lebanese police said. No casualties have been reported yet.

More than 700 Lebanese, most of them civilians, and more than 50 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched attacks on Lebanese Hezbollah on July 12 in retaliation for the Shiite group's abduction of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid.

Source: Xinhua