Tuesday, August 8 2006 12:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: The United States and France are having a second look at their resolution to end fighting in Lebanon following Arab concerns that it was heavily tilted in favour of Israel.

The vote on the resolution, originally expected yesterday, was delayed at least till tomorrow as Security Council members awaited a briefing from an Arab league delegation comprising foreign ministers of Qatar and United Arab Emirates and Secretary-General of Arab League Amr Moussa.

French diplomats said yesterday that they would take into consideration the concerns of Arabs but did not commit that they would change the language to meet all their objections.

The delegation is coming here later today in the wake of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Beirut which had asked the Council not to adopt a resolution which does not take into account their concerns.

The Arabs are also uncomfortable with the deployment of a UN-mandated international stabilisation force which France has offered to lead and prefer a force which is under UN command. Israel prefers a UN mandated force.

Under the Council's current thinking, only UN mandated or UN force and the Lebanese army would be allowed into that the buffer zone in an effort to eliminate Hizbollah from the area.

US Ambassador John Bolton and his French counterpart Jean-Marc de la Sabliere discussed possible changes in their draft.

"We are still talking about possible changes we can make based on the developments in Lebanon," Bolton said adding the draft would be finalised after listening to the Arab delegation.