US, others fail to agree on cease-fire

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the solution to the Middle East crisis should involve Iran and Syria. He also called for the formation of a multinational force to help Lebanon assert its authority and implement UN resolutions that would disarm Hizbollah.

After listening to a dramatic appeal from Lebanese Prime Minister Fuoad Siniora for them to stop the killing, the officials said they had agreed on the need to deploy an international force under the aegis of the UN in southern Lebanon.

8216;8216;An international force in Lebanon should urgently be authorised under a UN mandate to support the Lebanese armed forces in providing a secure environment,8217;8217; Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D8217;Alema said, but there was no mention of who would take part or any other details.

8216;8216;Participants expressed their determination to work immediately to reach, with utmost urgency, a ceasefire that puts an end to the current violence and hostilities. The ceasefire must be lasting, permanent and sustainable,8217;8217; D8217;Alema said.

He said many of the participants in the meeting appealed for an immediate and unconditional truce.

The United States and Britain opposed the push for a quick cease-fire, saying any truce should ensure that Hizbollah no longer is a threat to Israel and should ensure a durable peace.

The foreign ministers and other senior officials from the 15 nations, as well as Annan and representatives from the European Union and the World Bank, agreed on a declaration expressing 8216;8216;deep concern8217;8217; for the many civilian casualties in Lebanon, where government officials say hundreds have been killed.

The officials called on Israel to exercise 8216;8216;utmost restraint8217;8217; and deplored the destruction of infrastructure in Lebanon.

8216;8216;What we agreed upon is that there should be an international force under a UN mandate that will have a strong and robust capability to help bring about peace, to help provide the ability for humanitarian efforts to go forward and to bring an end to the violence,8217;8217; Rice told reporters.

There was no immediate response from Israel, which did not attend. Israeli officials have expressed support in principle for the deployment of an international force, recognizing that the weak Lebanese government could not likely subdue the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hizbollah without assistance.