Russia sees 'real' threat of wider ME conflict

"There is a real threat of the involvement of other states in this conflict," he told reporters here just ahead of a G8 summit of world leaders likely to be dominated by Israel's military offensives in Lebanon and Gaza.

"On the one hand, the capture of prisoners and shelling the territory of another state is absolutely unacceptable," Ivanov went on, referring to the Shia Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

"On the other hand, the use of military force on such a scale and against such targets I think is also unacceptable, or at least disproportionate," he added, referring this time to Israel.

"Whether we like it or not the only way of resolving this very difficult situation is to return to the negotiating table."

Israel has pounded targets in Gaza, on its southern border, and Lebanon to the north after the capture by militant groups of three of its soldiers and rocket attacks on the Jewish state.

US President George W Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin appealed yesterday for an end to the raging violence in the Middle East, but clashed on democracy in talks here and failed to clinch a key trade deal.

Meeting ahead of a G8 summit of world leaders, the presidents papered over their differences on Israel's offensives in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, which have left scores of people dead and triggered fears of a regional war.

Bush put the blame firmly on the Shia Hezbollah militia and Putin said Israel's response had to be measured, but neither leader resorted to stronger language used by their governments earlier in the week.

"We share the same concerns," Bush told a joint press conference with host Putin.

Earlier Bush led a campaign Friday to starve the Lebanese militia Hezbollah of support, but did not pressure Israel to halt strikes on targets in Lebanon, his spokesman said.

"The president is not going to make military decisions for Israel," White House press secretary Tony Snow told reporters.

The US president told Lebanon Prime Minister Fuad Siniora "that he believes that the Israelis have a right to protect themselves, and also that we think it's important that in doing that, they try to limit as much as possible so-called collateral damage, not only to facilities but also to human lives," said the spokesman.