Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Sunday that the G8 statement on Lebanon was indecisive. He said a UN team is currently visiting Beirut after similar visits to Egypt and Jordan.
He asserted that Israel's military actions would not achieve its goals.
The top diplomat stressed that ever since the start of the crisis Egypt has been exerting its utmost efforts to secure the release of the Israeli soldier in return for a group of Palestinians.

"This effort has been foiled by other parties that talked about international guarantees," he said.
Taking up the situation in Lebanon, Abul Gheit said: "The most important thing is to move swiftly to prevent Israel from escalating its actions."
He highlighted President Hosni Mubarak's assertion that the Israeli escalation would breed more anger, extremism and hatred.