Day 20 in Lebanon

Qana attack

* An Israeli air strike on Lebanese village of Qana killed at least 54 people, including 37 children sheltering in a basement with their families. Many died as they slept. The attack flattened a three-storey building and was the bloodiest single attack in Israel's war on Hizbollah. Rescue workers dug through the rubble with their hands. Lebanese MP Bahia Hariri claimed 15 of those killed were handicapped children. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed "deep sorrow" at the bombing, but vowed the war against Hizbollah would go on. Israel said it was unaware civilians were in the building and accused Hizbollah of firing rockets from Qana. In April 1996, Israeli shelling killed more than 100 civilians sheltering near United Nations peacekeepers in Qana during Israel's "Grapes of Wrath" bombing campaign. International outrage over that attack helped force Israel to end its 17-day campaign, which killed more than 200 Lebanese.

Diplomacy drive

* United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won a 48-hour suspension of Israel's aerial bombardment of south Lebanon to allow for an investigation into the attack. US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said Israel had the right to "take action against targets preparing attacks against it". Rice met Olmert and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. Rice cancelled a trip to Beirut after being told she was not welcome. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said he could not hold talks before a ceasefire. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said fighting had to stop once a UN resolution demanding a ceasefire was passed. "This is a situation that simply cannot continue." French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy to travel to Beirut.

United Nations

* UN Security Council members agreed on statement expressing "extreme shock and distress" at the Qana attack. The statement "strongly deplores this loss of innocent lives" but did not call for an immediate truce, as requested by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan but opposed by the US. "I am deeply dismayed that my earlier calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities were not heeded," Annan said. I repeat this call once again." Annan said no one disputed Israel's right to defend itself "but its manner of doing so is causing death and suffering".
Israel's UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman said Qana was "a hub for Hizbollah" and said his country had "beseeched" residents to leave before the attack. A resolution drafted by France calling for an immediate end to fighting, outlining conditions for a permanent ceasefire and an international force in south Lebanon will be considered later in the week.

Toll

* At least 542 people have been killed in Lebanon, though the Lebanese Health Minister estimated the toll at 750. Fifty-one Israelis have been killed.

Humanitarian aid

* Israel is to co-ordinate with the UN to allow 24 hours for south Lebanon residents to leave the area. US said the aim of suspending bombing was to improve the flow of humanitarian aid and ease suffering.

Protests

* Protesters smashed their way into UN headquarters in downtown Beirut as thousands massed outside chanting "death to Israel, death to America". Gunmen stormed a UN compound in Gaza City during a protest over the Qana bombing. At least two people were wounded.

Synagogue attack

* Anger over the Middle East conflict and the spiralling civilian death toll in Lebanon may have triggered an attack on a Sydney synagogue. Rabbi Wernick and his family were inside a house attached to a synagogue in Mason St, Parramatta, when it was attacked. Projectiles were hurled at the roof of the synagogue, and blocks of concrete were thrown at two cars.

Hizbollah

* Vowed to retaliate for Qana attack. Siniora, often at odds with Hizbollah, thanked its leader Hassan Nasrallah and "all those who sacrifice their lives for the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon". The Israeli Army said five guerrillas were killed in clashes but Hizbollah said it had lost three.

Rocket attacks

* A record 156 rockets were fired at northern Israel, surpassing the previous record of 151 set on July 26, an Israeli Army spokesman said. Five people were wounded according to the Army, though the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, Magen David Adom, reported 15 wounded. About 1800 rockets have been fired at northern Israel. Eighteen civilians have been killed and 300 wounded.

Air attacks

* An Israeli air strike killed five civilians, including two children, in a house in Yaroun. An air strike hit Lebanon's road to Damascus at the border with Syria for a second time. The border was open, but people arriving in Lebanon had to leave their cars, walk around the bomb crater and find new transport on the Lebanese side.

Ground fighting

* Israeli troops pushed into southeast Lebanon and battled Hizbollah fighters. Israeli forces were near the villages of Kfar Kila, Taibe and Deir Mimas. Hizbollah hit an Israeli tank with missile, wounding four soldiers who were evacuated, the Israeli Army said. It said four foot soldiers were wounded in another incident.

- AGENCIES