THE VATICAN. - Roman L'Osservatore, the Vatican newspaper, denounced yesterday the UN’s "do-nothing policy" about the Middle East crisis due to the “crossed vetoes” in the Security Council, and lamented "the death of human law".

"The UN, reduced to the do-nothing policy while Lebanon burns", titles the newspaper, and assures that "the dynamics of the crossed vetoes that is used in the Security Council prevents the adoption of concrete support measures for international legality".

Pope Benedict XVI made a call to pray for the end of violence in the Middle East and his Secretary of State, cardinal Angelo Sodano, denounced Israel’s "attack" on Lebanon, a "free and sovereign nation".