THE big powers split yesterday over the fighting in the Middle East as leaders gathered for the G8 summit in Russia, with President Bush refusing to demand that Israel halt its military action.

President Putin, host of the summit in St Petersburg, called for an immediate end to hostilities between Israel and Lebanon. “We assume that all sides in conflict should immediately end their military action. That should be the starting point for resolving all other problems,” Mr Putin told an international group of teenagers.

Mr Bush said he would not tell Israel to end its military action, although he hoped for a ceasefire soon. Mr Bush spoke by phone to Fouad Siniora, the Lebanese Prime Minister, who appealed to him to tell Israel to limit its military operations.

Asked if Mr Bush had agreed to Mr Siniora’s request, Tony Snow, the White House spokesman, said: “No. The President is not going to make military decisions for Israel.” Mr Bush “believes the Israelis have the right to protect themselves and that in doing that they should limit as much as possible so-called collateral damage not only to facilities but also to human lives”, Mr Snow said.

Tony Blair also became involved in the diplomatic efforts with telephone calls to Mr Siniora and Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General. Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, spoke to her Israeli counterpart.

President Chirac said in an interview on French TV: “I find honestly — as all Europeans do — that the current reactions are totally disproportionate.” As a UN team travelled to the region to try to defuse the crisis, the UN Security Council met in emergency session. France, this month’s council president, sought to avert a new diplomatic clash a day after the United States vetoed a UN resolution on Israeli operations in Gaza. To avoid another divisive vote, France put forward a bland statement on Lebanon that merely endorsed the UN mediation effort.

The three-member UN team travelled to Cairo yesterday for talks with Arab League foreign ministers on the first stop of its mission to the region.

In the Security Council, many delegations condemned Hezbollah for firing rockets across the Israeli border and for the kidnap of two Israeli soldiers. Ambassadors emphasised the Lebanese Government’s need to disband militias and take control of its entire territory. Delegates also called on Israel to show restraint.

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