BRITAIN ON SUNDAY CRITICIZED ISRAEL'S ACTIONS IN LEBANON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 11-DAY-OLD CONFLICT, ACCORDING TO BRITISH TELEVISION REPORTS. SPEAKING ON A VISIT TO BEIRUT, FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER OF STATE KIM HOWELLS CRITICIZED THE ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES ON LEBANON "WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN SURGICAL STRIKES" AND WHICH HAVE LED TO THE DEATHS OF MANY AND THE DESTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BBC REPORTED. "IF THEY (ISRAEL) ARE CHASING HEZBOLLAH, THEN GO FOR HEZBOLLAH. YOU DON'T GO FOR THE ENTIRE LEBANESE NATION," HOWELLS SAID. "I VERY MUCH HOPE THE AMERICANS UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING TO LEBANON," HE ADDED. A SPOKESMAN FOR BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR TOLD THE BBC THAT BLAIR SUPPORTED HOWELLS' COMMENTS. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD CALLED ON ISRAEL LAST WEEK TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT. THE UNITED STATES HAS CALLED HOWELLS' COMMENTS "UNWISE," BRITISH NEWSPAPERS REPORTED SUNDAY, ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF DPA NEWS AGENCY.
