A draft UN resolution agreed by France and the United States on Saturday
calls for "full cessation of hostilities" by Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon
which have been involved in a bloody conflict since July 12.
The draft calls for "a full cessation of hostilities based upon, in
particular, the immediate cessation by Hezbollah of all attacks and the
immediate cessation by Israel of all offensive military operations."
It also expresses "its utmost concern at the continuing escalation of
hostilities in Lebanon and in Israel since Hezbollah's attack on Israel on 12
July 2006, which has already caused hundreds of deaths and injuries on both
sides, extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of
internally displaced persons."
The draft also sets conditions for a permanent ceasefire and a long-term
solution, including the full respect for the Blue Line by both parties, the
delineation of the international borders of Lebanon, security arrangements to
prevent the resumption of hostilities and the deployment of an international
force in Lebanon.
The UN Security Council is due to meet at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT) to discuss the
draft which will be likely adopted in the next few days.
U.S. and French ambassadors to the United Nations had been involved for the
past few days in exclusive discussions on a France-sponsored draft that would
call for an "immediate cessation of hostilities" and set conditions for a
permanent cease-fire and a lasting political settlement.
