|PIC1|The College of Bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church has condemned the Israeli military assault on Lebanon as the EU ends emergency talks with a push for a full ceasefire.

The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Rev Dr Idris Jones, said on behalf of the Bishops: “Whilst condemning terrorism in all its forms, including the recent hostage taking by Hezbollah of the Israeli soldiers and its rocket attacks on Northern Israel, we regard the Israeli response as totally disproportionate.”

The College of Bishops called for an immediate halt in the fighting, saying, “We call on both parties to the conflict to cease hostilities at once”.

It also urged the UK and US governments to play its part in securing a ceasefire.

“We strongly urge the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States of America to expend every effort to bring about an immediate ceasefire in order to allow the opportunity for principles for a lasting peace to be established.”

|TOP|The College of Bishops said that any delay in securing a ceasefire would amount to “an unacceptable acquiescence in the escalation of suffering on the part of innocent men, women and children and of the continuing damage to essential infrastructure”.

They ended their statement with an invitation to Scottish Episcopalians to join in “praying for the peace of the region and for those caught up in the current conflict”.

The EU called for an immediate end to hostilities after four hours of emergency talks in Brussels.

The 25 ministers called for a halt in the fighting to be followed by measures to secure an immediate ceasefire.

World leaders continue to disagree, however, over the urgency of a ceasefire. |AD|

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made it clear that Israel was not looking for a ceasefire at this moment in time.

"Every extra day is one that drains the strength of the enemy. Every day that passes is one in which the (army) reduces their ability to fight us," he said.

EU’s Finnish presidency also issued an initial draft statement in which it called for an immediate ceasefire.

But the document failed to receive the backing of Britain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark.

Towns and villages took a further hammering earlier as Israel swooped four miles into Lebanon.

The death toll of the conflict now stands at around 605 although some estimates put the figure at well over 800.

The conflict has killed at least 51 Israelis.