The British minister overseeing the evacuation of Britons from Beirut has criticised Israel over its bombardment of Lebanon.

Kim Howells said it was "difficult to understand" the tactics being used by Israel against Hizbollah targets. About 360 Lebanese civilians - many of them children - have been killed in 10 days of shelling and bombing while much of the country's infrastructure has been destroyed.

Some 34 Israelis have been killed in cross-border rocket attacks by Hizbollah.

UK FM Howell: "These have not been surgical strikes. You don't go for the entire Lebanese nation."

Foreign Office minister Mr Howells brushed off calls from former Cabinet minister Clare Short for Britain to demand a ceasefire, saying it would not resolve the problem.

However, he did hit out at Israel's shelling campaign. Mr. Howell told Sky News: "These have not been surgical strikes and it's very, very difficult, I think, to understand the kind of military tactics that have been used. If they are chasing Hizbollah, then go for Hizbollah. You don't go for the entire Lebanese nation."

SYDNEY (The Sydney Morning Herald) July 22 -- About 15,000 people turned Sydney's George Street into a human highway as they protested at Israeli attacks on Lebanon and Palestine. Waving placards with messages to the Australian government and the world that read, "We are not terrorists, we are being terrorised" and "John - save our country", the protesters carried coffins and chanted "no war" as they marched down George Street to Martin Place.

Members of Sydney's Lebanese community chant as they march through Sydney's central business district. More than 10,000 people, carrying coffins and chanting 'No war,' rallied to protest against Israel's attacks on Lebanon. AP Photo/Mark Baker

The protest was by far the largest of three across the country, with much smaller crowds rallying in Melbourne and Adelaide against the Middle East conflict. Several thousand demonstrators began gathering at Town Hall in central Sydney about noon (AEST) Saturday.

Joined by former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib and the spiritual leader of Australia's Muslim community, Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali, the crowd quickly swelled.

Addressing the huge gathering, organiser Ibrahim Constantine said peace was the only way forward for the embattled region. "We are marching today, Christian and Muslims united as one, marching to give peace a chance. This is a war that Israel will not win. This is a war that no one will win. We ask the international community to give peace a chance."

BEIRUT (ABC/AP) July 26 -- Hezbollah had expected "the usual, limited response" from Israel after the two soldiers were seized by guerrillas ... In the past, Israeli responses to Hezbollah actions included sending commandos into Lebanon, seizing Hezbollah officials and briefly targeting specific strongholds in southern Lebanon.

Komati said his group had anticipated negotiations to swap the Israeli soldiers for three Lebanese held in Israeli jails, with Germany acting as a mediator as it has in past prisoner exchanges.

Official Justification for Israel's Invasion on Thin Ice

As Lebanon continues to be pounded by Israeli bombs and munitions, the justification for Israel's invasion is treading on very thin ice. It has become general knowledge that it was Hezbollah guerillas that first kidnapped two IDF soldiers inside Israel on July 12, prompting an immediate and violent response from the Israeli government, which insists it is acting in the interest of national defense.