Middle East Crisis: Brazil's FM in phone appeal to Condoleezza Rice

Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, has asked U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, to press for an immediate cease-fire by Israel in Lebanon.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a communique that Amorim had made the plea in a telephone conversation with Rice, and expressed his concerns over the situation in war-torn Lebanon, particularly for the safety of Brazilians living there.

The communique added that the Brazilian Foreign Ministry is working with the Lebanese community in Brazil, as well as with other government agencies, to evacuate Brazilian citizens from the war-affected region.