July 16 (Bloomberg) -- U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair joined President George W. Bush in blaming Iran and Syria for the escalation in violence in the Middle East, raising pressure on the two nations as missiles fired from Lebanon killed eight people in Israel.

``There are those in the region, notably Iran and Syria, who do not want this process of democratization and negotiation to succeed,'' Blair said today after a meeting with Bush in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the Group of Eight summit. ``There has been a real hesitation to put the real truth of this situation.''

In previous days, Blair had avoided apportioning blame for the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, urging both sides to halt the violence. Today, he said Iran and Syria were backing ``extremists'' in the region who want to derail efforts to strengthen democracy in Lebanon.

The comments lend support to Bush, who alone among G-8 leaders meeting in Russia had previously named Iran and Syria as the underlying cause of the violence. The price of crude oil has risen to a record amid concerns that the conflict may broaden to take in other countries in the region.

The exchanges across the Israel-Lebanon border have been going on since July 12, when Hezbollah fighters who control southern Lebanon and staged a raid into Israel, abducting two soldiers. That followed the kidnapping of another Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip.

`Underlying Conditions'

``I don't think anybody really believes that this is just about Hezbollah and Israel,'' Blair said in an interview to be broadcast on British Broadcasting Corp. television today. ``The only way we are going to get a calming-down, a cease-fire, restraint shown on all sides is if we deal with the underlying conditions which are the reason why this conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has come about.''

From the perspective of the U.S. and Britain, the kidnappings and rocket attacks pushed Israel into a counter- strike, derailing the prospect of coaxing Hamas, the Islamic movement that controls the Palestinian government, away from violence and into a political dialogue.

``You have to remember where we were before this started,'' said Tom Kelly, a spokesman for Blair. ``We were on the verge of talks between Israel and the Palestinians. That is what is being disrupted by this crisis. There are underlying issues that have to be addressed. A quick-fix isn't going to do it.''

`Be Mindful'

``Our message to Israel is to defend yourself, but be mindful of the consequences,'' Bush said at the joint press conference with Blair. ``We're urging restraint.''

Eight people were killed and at least 20 injured today when Hezbollah rockets struck Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, and its suburbs, the police and emergency services said. Most of the casualties occurred when one of the rockets hit a garage adjacent to the city's main train station at about 9:20 a.m. local time.

That brought the number of Israeli casualties to 21 as the conflict in Lebanon moved into its fifth day. At least 110 Lebanese civilians have been killed as well as three soldiers and two Hezbollah fighters, according to Lebanese police.

It was the most serious Israeli military action in Lebanon since May 2000, when Israel pulled out of a swath of southern Lebanon it had held for 18 years.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in a shift to the country's traditional even-handed approach to the subject, said three days ago that ``Israel has the right to defend itself.''

UN Resolution

Bush and French President Jacques Chirac said today they would seek to use an existing United Nations resolution calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon as a means of pressuring Iranian and Syrian leaders. Chirac said he ``totally'' shares Bush's view on Lebanon, adding that ``we have to stop all forces which question or put in danger the security, stability and sovereignty of Lebanon.''

Still, asked by the U.K.'s Sky News television in an interview whether Russia regards Iran and Syria as the main backers of Hezbollah, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that ``I will be convinced if I see facts.''

In Tehran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad compared the Israeli government with Adolf Hitler's. Iran doesn't recognize Israel and has voiced support for groups including Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas movement, which the U.S. says support terrorism.

``The Zionists think that they are victims of Hitler, but they act like Hitler and behave worse than Genghis Khan,'' Ahmadinejad said late yesterday, according to the state-run Iranian News Agency.

To contact the reporter on this story: Reed V. Landberg in St. Petersburg, Russia, at 7861 or landberg@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 16, 2006 08:14 EDT