Lebanese prime minister rejects Bush's ceasefire plan

The Lebanese prime minister rejected a UN ceasefire plan backed by President George Bush, demanding that Israel immediately pull out from southern Lebanon even before a peacekeeping force arrives to act as a buffer between Hezbollah and the Jewish state.

Meanwhile, fighting continued today between Hezbollah guerrillas and Israeli forces in south Lebanon near the border with Israel. One Israeli soldier was killed and five others wounded in clashes in Bint Jbail, the Israeli army said.