Brazil asks Israel to guarantee evacuating citizens' security

Brazil has asked Israel to guarantee the security of its citizens seeking evacuation from Lebanon, as at least seven Brazilians have died in Israeli attacks since last week, Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said on Thursday.

Israel must not attack the roads chosen by Brazil for its evacuation caravans, Amorim told reporters.

He reiterated that Israel's attack on Lebanon was "completely out of proportion."

The minister added that Hezbollah was using civilians as a cover for their attacks on Israel.

At least seven Brazilians have been killed in the Israeli bombardments which began after the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah guerrillas.

The Lebanese community in Brazil asked Amorim to pressure Israel to agree to a ceasefire so that non-combatants could evacuate.

Earlier on Thursday, Amorim had summoned Tzipora Rimon, Israel's ambassador to Brazil, to the country's Foreign Ministry, emphasizing Brazilian concerns for its citizens and calling for Israel to moderate its bombing.

"We will... make all the efforts we can to guarantee citizens' safe passage. But this does not only depend on Israel's actions (but those) of other nations and also Hezbollah," said the Israeli ambassador.

According to Brazil's foreign office, 700 Brazilians in Lebanon have requested evacuation assistance. An Air Force plane, sent by the Brazilian government, has already brought home more than 100 Brazilians and five Argentines.

Source: Xinhua