Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he favored an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East and called for international efforts to avert a humanitarian disaster in Lebanon.

In a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Putin "stressed that he is favor of an immediate cessation of the armed conflict and of finding a political settlement to the conflict with the participation of all sides," the Kremlin said in a statement. The phone call was initiated by the UN chief, the Kremlin added.

Both Putin and Annan stressed the UN Security Council must act in accordance with its full responsibilities, the statement said.

Putin called for mobilizing the whole international community to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said on Thursday over 900Lebanese had been killed and about 3,000 people had been injured in Israel's three-week offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians have been killed in rocket attacks by Hezbollah.

Russia and the United Nations are members of the international Quartet mediating for peace in the Middle East. The group's other members are the United States and the European Union.