Syria 'working for a ceasefire'

Syria, one of Hezbollah’s main backers, said in remarks published today that it will press for a ceasefire to end the fighting between Israel and the Islamic militant group but only in the framework of a broader Middle East peace initiative, signalling it was ready to help defuse the Lebanese crisis.

Damascus warned, however, that it would not stand by if the Israelis stepped up their offensive in Lebanon.