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Source: http://today.reuters.com/
France, U.S. in Intensive Talks on Middle East Text
[Reuters] Irwin Arieff - France and the U.S. conducted intensive negotiations on Thursday on a draft UN resolution seeking an end to the fighting between Israel and Lebanon's Hizballah, but no deal was reached. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton, after more than three hours of talks with France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, said differences had been narrowed but "we have certainly not reached agreement." The U.S. and France have been working for a resolution that would call for a truce between Israel and Hizballah and propose a framework for a lasting political solution to the conflict. A second resolution would authorize an international peacekeeping force and set out terms for a permanent cease-fire and the disarmament of Hizballah. The latest draft of the initial resolution circulated to the Security Council's 15 members also proposes beefing up the UN peacekeeping mission now in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, to monitor implementation of the truce until a more robust international force can be assembled. The U.S. would like an international force in southern Lebanon immediately after a truce. But France, touted as a leader for such a force, does not want its troops caught in a cross-fire between Israel and Hizballah, and wants a force sent in only after the permanent cease-fire is in place. Israel wants its troops to remain in the area until an international force is in place, while Lebanon is expected to object to an Israeli presence. Israel also insists on the right to take "defensive action" against Hizballah fighters and rocket crews launching attacks against troops or civilians during a truce. French officials have insisted that an end to the fighting would rule out such defensive actions.