Fresh Israel raids after UN vote

Troops were reportedly heading towards Lebanon's Litani River, and fresh air strikes on Saturday left several dead.

Overnight, a resolution calling for a "full cessation of hostilities" was passed unanimously at the UN.

Israel's cabinet is due to discuss the decision on Sunday and will only halt military action after it takes a vote.

Even as the diplomats finalised the draft, Israel radio said troops had been ordered to seize ground as far as the strategic Litani River, up to 30km (18 miles) from the Israeli border.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said Israel's continuing actions would prepare the ground for an eventual takeover of southern Lebanon by Lebanese and international troops.

New strikes

Early strikes on Saturday led to reports of several deaths near the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, already badly hit by Israeli bombs.

A power station in the city of Sidon, north of the Litani River, was also struck, for just the second time in the conflict.

Hours before the UN vote, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered an expansion of the ground offensive in Lebanon.

An adviser to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora gave the resolution a cautious welcome, but there was no immediate reaction from Hezbollah.

The governments of both countries are expected to discuss the resolution at cabinet meetings over the weekend.

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