The Israeli military’s inquiry on the bombing of a building in the south Lebanese village of Qana that killed at least 28 civilians admits a mistake, but charges that Hezbollah guerrillas used civilians as shields for their rocket attacks, according to a statement released early today.

SIX UN and Red Cross convoys destined for southern Lebanon were delayed yesterday after failing to receive security clearance from Israeli military forces, although another convoy reached the besieged town of Qana.

In a major expansion of its ground offensive, Israel decided to send troops deeper into Lebanon, up to the Litani River some 18 miles from the Israeli border, to clear out Hezbollah fighters and hold the territory until a multi-national force is deployed there, senior officials said today.

Two UN convoys destined for southern Lebanon were halted today after they failed to receive necessary security clearance from Israeli military forces and Hezbollah, but another convoy reached the besieged town of Qana, officials said.

AS thousands of civilians trapped for nearly three weeks in south Lebanon’s war zone streamed north yesterday by truck, car and on foot, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert vowed there would be no ceasefire in the fight against Hezbollah.

A Hezbollah attack on an Israeli tank led to an airstrike to protect troops.

IRELAND will be one of several European countries that will today exert strong pressure on the British, German and Czech governments to accept the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.

It is reprehensible that world leaders quibble over the wording of statements while innocent civilians die in the Israeli-Lebanon offensive, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said tonight.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has condemned Israel for its attack on civilians in the Lebanese town of Qana yesterday.

Israel will “expand and strengthen” its attack on Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, the defence minister said today, diminishing hopes that a 48-hour halt in air strikes could be turned into a longer-term ceasefire.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is expected in Beirut later today in the first visit by an Iranian official to war-hit Lebanon since fighting broke out between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah guerrillas.

Israeli warplanes struck suspected guerrilla positions in eastern Lebanon near the border with Syria early today, despite its suspension of air strikes, security officials said.

PROTESTERS, angered by the Israeli air strike in Qana that killed up to 50 refugees, broke into the main UN building in Beirut yesterday, burning UN and American flags.

The Israeli bombing that killed at least 60 civilians, including 37 children, in the southern Lebanese village of Qana has provoked international revulsion.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today called for an immediate halt to violence between Israel and Hezbollah as he condemned a deadly Israeli airstrike that killed at least 54 people in southern Lebanon early today.

At least 56 people, more than half children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike that crushed a building today – the deadliest attack of the Israeli campaign.

More than 200 Irish troops could join an international peace-keeping force in the Middle East, it emerged today.

Israeli missiles struck a southern Lebanese village today killing about 50 civilians – half of them children – when the building they sought refuge in collapsed.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has condemned this morning's attack by Israeli forces on the Lebanese town of Qana, in which up to 50 people were killed.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II voiced his strongest criticism of his Israeli peace partner today as the strike on Qana sparked an outcry of anger across the Arab world.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today said she was “deeply saddened by the terrible loss of innocent life” in an attack on a village in southern Lebanon.

Protesters angry over an Israeli airstrike in Qana that killed up to 50 refugees broke into the main UN building in the Lebanese capital Beirut today, burning UN and American flags.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today said that the village of Qana, where Israeli airstrikes killed at least 50 people today- including scores of children - was used as a Hezbollah base for launching hundreds of rockets at Israel.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called off a trip to Lebanon today after the Lebanese government asked her not to come.

Up to 50 people were killed today – more than half of them children – when Israeli missiles struck a southern Lebanese village early today, flattening houses on top of sleeping residents.

Israel’s prime minister expressed “deep regret” today over the killing of UN peacekeepers in an Israeli airstrike, but rejected UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s charge that the bombing of the UN position was apparently deliberate.

A UN-run observation post just inside Israel was struck today during fighting between Israel and Hezbollah militants.

Israel struck a Lebanese army base outside Beirut and flattened a house near the border, killing at least 10 people in a new wave of bombings.

Westerners fled by land, sea and air as Israel launched waves of bombings that hit south Beirut, the border and the eastern city of Baalbek in the early hours today.