A BRITISH GOVERNMENT MINISTER CRITICISED ISRAELI ATTACKS IN LEBANON ON SATURDAY, SUGGESTING THEY WERE INDISCRIMINATE, IN THE STRONGEST CONDEMNATION YET OF ISRAELI ACTION BY A BRITISH OFFICIAL, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER KIM HOWELLS SAID ISRAELI AIR STRIKES ON LEBANON IN THE PAST 11 DAYS DID NOT ALWAYS APPEAR TO BE JUST HITTING HIZBOLLAH TARGETS. "THESE HAVE NOT BEEN SURGICAL STRIKES. IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE KIND OF MILITARY TACTICS THAT HAVE BEEN USED," HOWELLS TOLD REPORTERS IN BEIRUT, WHERE HE WAS OVERSEEING THE EVACUATION OF BRITISH CITIZENS. HE IS DUE TO TRAVEL TO ISRAEL, THE WEST BANK AND JORDAN. "YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE CHASING HIZBOLLAH, THEN GO FOR HIZBOLLAH. YOU DON'T GO FOR THE ENTIRE LEBANESE NATION." HOWELLS, KNOWN FOR BEING OUTSPOKEN, SAID BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER MARGARET BECKETT WOULD SPEAK TO HER U.S. COUNTERPART CONDOLEEZZA RICE ABOUT THE CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST LATER ON SATURDAY AHEAD OF RICE'S VISIT TO THE REGION. "I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THE AMERICANS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING TO LEBANON, THE DESTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THE DEATH OF SO MANY CHILDREN AND SO MANY PEOPLE," HE SAID.
