Israeli air strikes on Lebanon killed 61 civilians and one Hezbollah fighter on Wednesday, the deadliest toll of the eight-day-old war yet.

Hezbollah rockets killed two Arab-Israeli children in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth. More Hezbollah rockets fell on the city of Haifa and one hit an empty seafront restaurant.

Israeli troops crossed the border to raid Hezbollah posts and the Israeli army said two of its soldiers were killed and nine injured in fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas.

In a news conference on Wednesday Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called for a ceasefire and international aid.

"On behalf of the people of Lebanon, from Beirut to Baalbeck and Byblos to Tyre, Sidon and Qana, to each and everyone of the 21 villages at the southern border declared a no-go zone by Israel to Tripoli to Zahle to every town. I call upon you all to respond immediately without reservation or hesitation to this appeal for an immediate ceasefire, and for the lifting of the siege, and provide urgent humanitarian assistance to our war stricken country.

According to the Lebanese Prime Minister, by Wednesday evening 300 were killed and 1,000 wounded in his country.

However, the United States dug in its heels on Wednesday against UN calls for a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon. John Bolton said, "The notion that you just declare a ceasefire and act as if that is going to solve the problem, I think is simplistic. Among other things, I want somebody to address the problem how you get a ceasefire with a terrorist organization. I'd like to know when there's been an effective cease fire between a terrorist organization and a state in the past."

France, in a paper circulated to council members late on Tuesday, suggested a Security Council resolution that would call for a lasting cease-fire, the release of abducted Israeli soldiers and the possibility of a peacekeeping force.