IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINJAD HAS CALLED FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN LEBANON AND TALKS WITHOUT CONDITIONS

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (AP) -- World Leaders Differ on How to End Fighting in Lebanon.  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinjad has called for a cease-fire in Lebanon and talks without conditions. 

Iran's president is accusing the U.S. of trying to "re-carve the map" of the Middle East with Israel's help.

A sworn enemy of Israel, the Iranian government is also a major backer of Hezbollah, which crossed the border and captured two soldiers, prompting the current violence. But the Iranian president insists his country doesn't provide military support to Hezbollah, saying it's only political and moral support.

He's also demanding an immediate cease-fire, along with compensation and an apology from Israel to Lebanon.

In contrast, U.N. chief Kofi Annan today said Hezbollah must stop its "deliberate targeting of Israeli population centers" and Israel must end all bombing, ground operations and blockades of Lebanese ports.

Annan spoke as senior officials from the United States, Europe and several Arab nations met in Rome to work on a plan for ending more than two weeks of fighting.

The discussion is likely to focus on efforts by the Europeans and others to overcome strong U.S. and British opposition to an immediate cease-fire.

U.S. officials argue that a cessation of violence must also lead to a durable peace and ensure that Hezbollah is no longer a threat to Israel.

The leaders will also discuss the possible deployment of multinational forces to stabilize Lebanon's border with Israel and help disarm Hezbollah guerrillas.