Lebanese prime minister says 300 killed from Israel's week of bombardment

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- Lebanon's prime minister said Wednesday that 300 people have been killed, 1,000 have been wounded and a half-million displaced in Israel's week-old onslaught on Lebanon.\nPrime Minister Fuad Saniora said he would seek compensation from Israel for the "unimaginable losses" to the nation's infrastructure and he appealed for an end to hostilities on a humanitarian basis.\nIn a swipe at the international community, particularly the United States, which said Israel was acting in self-defense, Saniora said: "Is this what the international community calls the right of self-defense? Is this the price to pay?"\n"We will spare no avenue to make Israel compensate" for the destruction inflicted on the country, he told the gathering, which included U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman.\nHis comments were the first casualty figures officially announced by the government since Israel began its campaign July 12 after Hezbollah guerrillas captured two Israeli soldiers.\nThe ambassadors were shown photos of damage from the Israeli campaign, in which the international airport was hit and closed, roads bombed, bridges destroyed and various regions of the country cut off.\n"Lebanon deserves life. What kind of life is being offered to us now?" Saniora said. "We the Lebanese want life, we have chosen life. We refuse to die. Our choice is clear. We have survived the wars and destruction (before), we shall also do that now. ... I sincerely hope you will not let us down"