Pope calls for 'day of prayer'

POPE Benedict XVI has called for a day of prayer for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East conflict on Sunday, the Vatican said today.

A statement from the Vatican said the pontiff had expressed "great concern" over the continuing violence. The pope earmarked this Sunday as "a special day of prayer and penitence" to "implore God for the precious gift of peace", the statement said.

The pope called on the faithful of "all Churches" to offer prayers "for the immediate ceasfire between the parties, the immediate installation of humanitarian corridors to allow aid to be brought to the suffering populations and to then initiate reasonable and responsible negotiations."

"The Lebanese people have the right to see the integrity and sovereignty of their country respected, the Israelis have the right to live in peace in their state and the Palestinians have the right to have their own free and sovereign state," the statement said.

Pope Benedict XVI , also called on humanitarian and charitable organisations "to help all the populations hit by this pitiless conflict."