Greece condemns Israeli operations in Lebanon

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis sharply criticized the Israeli attacks Friday. "The out-of-bounds military activity in Lebanon over the last few days has escalated dangerously and may make the already critical situation in the Middle East out of control," Bakoyannis said in a statement. "This ... is to be condemned, as is the excessive reaction, the strikes against the unarmed and infrastructure used mainly by them." On Thursday, Bakoyannis spoke on the telephone with senior Chinese diplomats as well as US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, the Bush administration's chief negotiator on Iran. Greece currently holds a seat on the United Nations Security Council.