LEBANON: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch meets Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as diplomatic efforts to end crisis continue

There has been no immediate word on the outcome of talks between U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Welch arrived in Beirut on an unannounced visit on Wednesday (August 9) to meet with Siniora, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh as diplomats at the United Nations continued to argue over a resolution that might end the war. Their meeting comes as Israel's security cabinet was discussing whether to send troops deeper into Lebanon. A vote on a U.N. resolution to end the war, triggered by Hizbollah's seizure of two soldiers in a July 12 cross-border raid, may not take place before Thursday (August 10) because of wrangling. An Arab League delegation warned that civil war could erupt in Lebanon if Beirut's terms were not met. Lebanon wants an immediate ceasefire and a quick withdrawal of thousands of Israeli troops from its south. Faced with strong Arab objections, France and the United States are revising their draft. Under discussion is when and what kind of an international force would go in to support the Lebanese army, which U.S. officials believe is not strong enough to subdue Hizbollah. Lebanon announced on Monday (August 7) that it was sending 15,000 troops to the south, which has been dominated by Hizbollah since Israel ended a 22-year occupation in 2000. Israel, planning to pull out only when a foreign force and the Lebanese army take over to keep Hizbollah at bay, has vowed in the absence of agreement to expand an offensive in south Lebanon to curb Hizbollah's rocket attacks on the Jewish state. A deeper Israeli advance into Lebanon could step up pressure for a deal on terms that suit Israel and its ally Washington.

ITN Source | August 10, 2006

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