The US and France inched closer to a deal today on a UN resolution seeking an end to the fighting between Israel and Lebanon as the first step toward a political settlement of the conflict.
Once they reach agreement, which could occur over the weekend, a UN Security Council vote could be held within 24 hours. But with fighting raging, an end to hostilities still appears questionable, despite regular contacts by Washington and Paris with Israel and Lebanon.
US Ambassador John Bolton said after several hours of talks today with French UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere that progress had been made and a text was being sent back to Washington and Paris for review.
"There are still some issues that we have not resolved, but I think we have come a little bit closer this morning. We will keep working on it," Mr Bolton told reporters.
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."
Ghanaian UN Ambassador Nana Effah-Apenteng, this month's council president, said there was a possibility the council would meet over the weekend, depending on the negotiations. "Council members will do whatever is needed to accommodate negotiations," Effah-Apenteng said after the 15-member body received a briefing on the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.
The negotiations, based on a draft from France, center on specific demands for a cease-fire and whether only offensive operations should be outlawed or the resolution should call for a "suspension of hostilities."