Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ignited a political firestorm by linking the conflict in Lebanon to his plan to withdraw from much of the West Bank.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is abruptly breaking off her diplomatic mission in the Mideast and returning to Washington after Israel’s deadly attack on a Lebanese village, a US official said today.

US President George Bush today said that a plan to bolster Iraqi security forces in Baghdad will better address the violence there as he pledged to be a “strong partner” with Iraq’s new democratic government.

A humanitarian aid convoy could move from Beirut to southern Lebanon tomorrow if the Israeli army gives final approval, UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland said today.

President George Bush retains confidence in Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki despite the failure of the Shiite politician’s signature effort to improve security in Iraq’s bloody capital, the White House said as Bush prepared to host the new leader.

In a surprise visit to Beirut today, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the beleaguered prime minister of Lebanon for his courage in struggling to contain the fighting between the Hezbollah militia and Israel.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called for an immediate halt to the escalating conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia but said “there are serious obstacles to reaching a ceasefire or even to diminishing the violence quickly".

Israeli troops clashed with Hezbollah guerrillas on the Lebanese side of the border today, while warplanes flattened buildings and killed at least 20 people overnight as fighting entered its second week with the US signalling it will not push Israel toward a fast ceasefire.