Iran called on Saturday for an international investigation into Israeli "atrocities" in Lebanon, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Iran calls for the establishment of an international fact- finding group to probe the Zionist regime's atrocities in Lebanon, " Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said.

Iran "strongly demands trial and punishment of all involved in Israel's indiscriminate killings in Lebanon," he said.

Asefi also criticized the UN Security Council for failing to prevent Israel from killing civilians in Lebanon.

"Receiving the green light from the UN Security Council, the Zionist regime is brazenly killing innocent civilians in Lebanon," he said.

"The Security Council has, unfortunately, helped Israeli authorities continue their impudence and bloodshed by keeping silent and turning a blind eye," the spokesman said.

Warning that Israel was seeking to spread its "warmongering policy" to other countries, Asefi said Israel's attacks would only lead to stronger support for the Lebanese people and government.

Lebanese Prime Minister Foaud Siniora said that some 900 Lebanese had been killed and a quarter of Lebanon's population displaced since the conflict began on July 12.

Over 70 Israelis have also been killed in the 25-day-long conflict.

Source: Xinhua