US, France close to deal on UN Mideast resolution

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://reuters.excite.com/article/20060804/2006-08-04T214549Z_01_N04240407_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-MIDEAST-UN-DC.html



US, France close to deal on UN Mideast resolution
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Aug 4, 5:45 PM (ET)


By Evelyn Leopold

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States and France were close to a deal on Friday on a U.N. resolution seeking an end to the fighting between Israel and Lebanon as the first step toward a political settlement of the conflict.

But France's U.N. ambassador, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, told reporters after a second round of talks, "We're still working on it."

Once they reach agreement, which could occur over the weekend, a U.N. Security Council vote could be held within 24 hours, possibly with foreign ministers.


A Lebanese refugee stands at a temporary shelter inside a school in the southern port city of Tyre (Soure), August 4, 2006. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra


But with fighting raging, an end to hostilities still appears questionable, despite regular contacts by Washington and Paris with Israel and Lebanon.

Earlier on Friday, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton told reporters after talks with Sabliere, "There are still some issues we've not resolved, but I think we've come a little bit closer."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "I think we are very close on coming up with a final draft text that could be shared among other council members. We are prepared to work through the weekend."

In a flurry of telephone diplomacy, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan discussed the resolution with President Bush, French President Jacques Chirac, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Denisov and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, a U.N. spokesman said.

The Bush administration has been slammed by critics who accuse it of siding with ally Israel by not calling for an immediate end to the fighting, which has killed 720 Lebanese and 73 Israelis.

[Kagemusha]

1. I find this hard to believe.

A resolution "seeking an end to the fighting" while expressly allowing it to continue as long as Israel feels necessary? That's the gist I'm getting.

[AlamoDemoc]

2. Gee! This current Israeli crime begin July 12

..and since then the US has gone out of its way to block every possible ceasefire anyone proposed. They will prolong the Israeli atrocities so long as Lebanon is no more.

[VegasWolf]

3. Meanwhile, Bush pussyfoots around with words that will let him

continue to kill little children in Lebanon so that AmeriKKKan Corporations can sell more weapons to Israel. This will of course boost the durable goods numbers for August, artificially inflating the economy, just in time for the fall elections. George W. Bush, how many little children are you going to kill or disfigure? Inquiring minds want to know. Thousands?

[partylessinOhio]

4. Well, now, just who are the real terrorists? The world knows now.

:scared: