Reply #6: U.S., France at odds over Lebanon demand [View All]

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060809/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_fighting_un;_ylt=AvY.afZhfhSinSeFoYjcK2qs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OTB1amhuBHNlYwNtdHM-

U.S., France at odds over Lebanon demand

By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago

UNITED NATIONS - The United States and France appeared at odds Wednesday over Arab demands to change a U.N. resolution they are co-sponsoring to call for a complete cessation of Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities and withdrawal of Israeli forces, diplomats said.


France proposed new language on a total cease-fire and Israeli pullout, but the Americans rejected it out of concern that without a robust international force, a vacuum would be created in southern Lebanon, a Hezbollah stronghold, the diplomats said.

While both countries welcomed Lebanon's announcement Monday that it will deploy 15,000 soldiers to the south when
Israel withdraws, the U.S. does not believe this force and U.N. peacekeepers can prevent a vacuum, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private.

U.S. and French diplomats had been hoping for a vote on the draft early this week. But the differences between the co-sponsors meant that a Security Council vote on the resolution to try to end the fighting would be delayed at least until Thursday.