Brussels protest condemns Israeli attacks

31 July 2006

BRUSSELS — Thousands of protestors demonstrated in Brussels city centre on Sunday in support of Lebanon, urging the international community to demand an end to hostilities.

The demonstration started at about 2.30pm. Some reports estimated 5,000 protestors marched through city streets, but estimates also went as high as 10,000.

The protestors were mainly of Arab ancestry. They carried Lebanese and Palestinian flags and loudly denounced the bloody Israeli attacks against southern Lebanon.

Sunday’s air attack against the Lebanese village of Qana — in which more than 30 children were killed — was especially condemned.

But the protestors’ anger was not only directed at the Israelis. The European Union and the UN were also sharply criticised.

The protestors demanded that the EU and UN exert more pressure to bring about a swift ceasefire and to end the suffering of the Lebanese and Palestinian people.

Later, however, Israel said it would suspend its attacks for 48 hours allowing an inquiry to be carried out into the Qana attack.

And the UN Security Council agreed a statement deploring the loss of life, expressing “extreme shock and distress” at the deaths.

However, the statement did not call for an immediate ceasefire, despite an earlier appeal by the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she believes a ceasefire and a lasting settlement could be reached this week.

Subject: Belgian news