Israel resumed its bombardment of Beirut today, ending a 24-hour lull that coincided with a visit to the region by Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State.

Loud blasts echoed across the Lebanese capital and a huge cloud of smoke rose from a residential district in the south of the city thought to be under the control of Hezbollah.

The bombing came as Israeli ground forces clashed with Shia guerrillas in southern Lebanon and claimed to have taken control of Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah base that has been the object of several days fighting.

An Israeli general said at least 20 Hezbollah guerrillas had been killed in the past 24 hours. In the market town of Nabatiyeh, further north, an Israeli missile strike flattened a house killing seven people, including four from the same family.

More than 390 Lebanese, mostly civilians, have now been killed in the fighting, which began on July 12 when Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed eight others. Forty one Israelis — 24 servicemen and 17 civilians —have lost their lives.

Dr Rice yesterday paid a surprise visit to Beirut, where she expressed her support for the Government of Fouad Siniora, the Prime Minister, and her deep concern for the plight of Lebanese civilians.

This morning she met Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, and said that a ceasefire was urgently needed. But she made clear that any ceasefire had to be "durable" - meaning that Israeli's security objectives in southern Lebanon, where it wants Hezbollah neutralised, should first be met.

"A durable solution will be one that strengthens the forces of peace and democracy in the region," she said. "The people of this region, Israelis, Lebanese, and the Palestinians have lived too long in fear, and in terror, and in violence."

But Mr Olmert pledged to carry on the offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas and a senior Israeli army officer said later that Israeli forces might have to move as far as 70km (40 miles) into Lebanon to destroy Hezbollah positions.

The US Secretary of State then moved on to Ramallah for a meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, to discuss that month-long Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Shopkeepers in the West Bank city shut their doors to protest against the visit, accusing her of siding with Israel. The strike was called by several Palestinian factions, including Mr Abbas's Fatah movement and the ruling Hamas group. A crowd of thousands gathered to chant: "Rice, Rice, you are a crow, what misery you bring with you."

"She is persona non grata in Palestine," said Khaled Rajab, a taxi-driver, of the US Secretary of State. "We have nothing personal against her, but against the blind bias towards Israel."

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