Wider agreement needed in Middle East, says Bush

US President George Bush today insisted that any Mideast ceasefire be accompanied by a wider agreement.

“We want there to be a long-lasting peace, one that is sustainable,” he said as Israel cut short a halt in bombing and launched new strikes in southern Lebanon.

Bush said he planned to meet later today in Washington with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who cut short her diplomatic mission and was returning from the Middle East.

“I’ll speak to Condi Rice when she gets back tonight, talk about what she saw, what she heard in the Middle East. And, of course, there’ll be a way forward in the Security Council later this week,” Bush said, speaking after a meeting with Cuban-American business leaders in Miami.

“I assured the people here that we will work towards a plan at the United Nations Security Council that addresses the root causes of the problem, so that whatever comes out of the Security Council will be able to last and that the people of Lebanon and Israel will be able to remain in peace,” said Bush. “That’s what we want.”