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Egyptian minister speaks to Israel over Lebanon

CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa spoke to his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak about Israel's three-day bombardment of southern Lebanon, the government said on Saturday.

A brief foreign ministry statement said Moussa telephoned Barak "as part of Egypt's diplomatic action to contain the crisis in Lebanon". It gave no details.

Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri is expected to meet President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo on Sunday to seek Egyptian support to press Israel to halt its air and artillery onslaught.

Egyptian television said Mubarak sent a message to Lebanese President Elias Hrawi "expressing the worry of Egypt's government and people over the continued Israeli attacks on the Lebanese people".

According to a Reuters count 21 people have been killed and 48 wounded, mostly civilians, in the three-day blitz by Israeli forces.-Reuter