World oil prices rose to near 75 dollars on Tuesday amid concerns over the Middle East.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in September, climbed 51 cents at 74.91 dollars per barrel in closing trades.

In London, Brent North Sea crude for September delivery surged 74 cents at 75.89 dollars per barrel.

Traders are concerned over the violence between Israel and Hezbollah, which could spread to crude-producing nations in the Middle East.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh called here on Tuesday for the forming of an international tribunal against Israelis accused of committing war crimes during Israel's aggression in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Iran showed no signs of giving up its work on nuclear fuel cycle on Tuesday, one day after the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding it suspend uranium enrichment by Aug. 31.

Traders worry about the possibility that Iran's oil exports would halt if the United Nations imposed international sanctions on Teheran for its nuclear activities.

Source: Xinhua