There has been swift condemnation of the Israeli raids on Lebanese power plants.

The Lebanese Prime Minister, Salim Hoss, said defiantly:

"If Israel is attacking Lebanon to disrupt the lives of the Lebanese and to make them accept the occupation, they will be disappointed." Mr Hoss added: "It is our fate to be the target of aggression by Israel, which occupies our land and strikes Lebanese targets. The Lebanese people condemn the occupation and the resistance is a symbol of their rejection."

Syria also angrily condemned the attacks.

Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara said: "Israel must take full responsibility for sparking a military escalation in Lebanon, violating the April (1996 Grapes of Wrath) agreement and shaking the foundations of the peace process."

'Removing Hezbollah's restrains'

In the Israeli press, some commentary writers were critical of the bombing raids.

Zvi Barel wrote in the Ha'aretz daily: "An attack on Lebanese infrastructure may be good for national pride, but it could result in the end of the Grapes of Wrath understanding (in which both sides promised to avoid civilian targets). This could remove all combat restraints from Hezbollah."

'Missed chance for peace'

Syrian government radio was scathing and said that the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, "was missing opportunities for peace."

A commentary on the radio said: "Israel has implemented its flagrant, continuous threats against Lebanon and the Lebanese national resistance and expanded its aggressive air operations against a number of vital installations."

"By this Barak has missed opportunities for peace and pushed the region towards a scenario where all options are open. He has proved once again that the mentality of occupation cannot be reconciled with the peace process," the radio commentary said.

'Deeply concerned'

Without commenting directly on the air strikes, a spokesman for the US State Department, Philip Reeker, said, "We are deeply concerned by the escalation of violence in southern Lebanon."

"We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to calm the dangerous situation. We are in contact with senior levels of the Israeli, Syrian and Lebanese governments," Mr Reeker said.

Paris deplores bombings

France has condemned the Israeli strikes, and urged both sides not to escalate the violence which could threaten the Middle East peace process.

"We deplore last night's bombings, aimed at public services that are indispensable for the daily life of the population in many areas of Lebanon, and which left a number of people wounded," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne Gazeau-Secret said.