Thursday, August 3 2006 17:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: A United Nations Security Council resolution to end the deadly conflict between Israel and Hizbollah in Lebanon could be adopted within a week.

But diplomats said that differences on main elements, especially timing of the ceasefire, still persist between United State and France, which is expected to lead the new stabilisation force.

UN officials said they had expected the Lebanon resolution to be adopted this week but now it appears the negotiations might drag on into the next week.

American UN Ambassador John Bolton told reporters yesterday that progress is being made but conceded that differences on several elements still remained.

Council diplomats as also UN officials held out the hope that the resolution would provide for strengthening the current peacekeeping force in Lebanon as an interim measure as the more robust stabilisation force is put in place.

The world body cancelled a meeting of the troop contributors after objections were raised by member states that they could hardly make any commitment until the mandate of new force was known. Some 40 countries were expected to attend the meeting.

Other diplomats said all agreed only on the goals but differed on how to achieve them and that timing of the ceasefire or cessation of hostilities was one of the main elements on which there was no agreement.