Germany's Steinmeier Calls for Swift UN Resolution on Lebanon

On his second visit to the Middle East since the start of the current crisis, Steinmeier said a UN resolution was urgently needed.

"It's the way to silence the weapons and I think we have to find it as quickly as possible," he said, adding that the conflict could not be resolved unless Hezbollah no longer posed a threat to Israel.

"The conflict-ridden neighborhood between Israel and Hezbollah cannot be continued," Steinmeier said after meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

The two politicians also welcomed the proposal by Lebanese Premier Fuad Siniora to send 15,000 troops to the Hezbollah-controlled southern part of the country. Steinmeier said it was an "important step" that showed that the Lebanese government was willing to exercise its sovereignty. Livni said that Lebanese troops should be accompanied by an international stabilization force to "keep the region clean" of Hezbollah.

France and US Divided Over Lebanon Resolution

French President Jacques Chirac meanwhile voiced confidence an accord would be reached between French and US diplomats working on a new text to be put to the Security Council. But he admitted that Paris and Washington -- co-sponsors of an earlier draft rejected by Lebanon and Arab leaders -- were now divided over how far to take on Lebanon's demands.

"It seems indeed that there are American reservations towards adopting the proposal" integrating certain Lebanese demands, Chirac said.

Lebanon and Arab nations opposed the earlier Franco-American text, mainly on the grounds that it did not call for Israel to withdraw its troops from Lebanon after a truce in the four-week conflict.

France mulls own resolution

Warning the conflict was a threat to the stability of the entire Middle East, Chirac hinted that France may press ahead alone and submit a resolution to the Security Council, with or without US support.

"If we fail to agree, we will have a Security Council debate at which each side will clearly reaffirm their position, including naturally France with its own resolution," he said.

Chirac stressed that any final text should uphold Lebanon's "sovereignty, stability, unity and independence."

"Israel and Lebanon have reacted and we must take their reactions into account, notably the interests of Lebanon," he said, hailing Beirut's offer to deploy 15,000 men in south Lebanon as a key to restoring national sovereignty.

French troops for peacekeeping force

Chirac also reaffirmed his country was willing to take part in a possible international force in Lebanon following a ceasefire agreement.

"Following (a political agreement), we can, in a month for example, put in place an international force in which France will naturally participate in one form or another, as long as its mandate is clear," he said.

Because of its strong historical ties with Lebanon, Paris is widely expected to play a leading role in the deployment of any international force.

Israel widens offensive

Israel's security cabinet meanwhile agreed Wednesday to expand its ground war in Lebanon.

"Plans by Defense Minister Amir Peretz and the chief of staff for expanding the operation have been approved by the cabinet," Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai said after a six-hour meeting.

Peretz had already ordered the army to prepare to expand operations against Hezbollah in a bid to reduce their rocket-launching capabilities, with Israeli troops possibly going beyond the Litani River, 30 kilometers (19 miles) deep into Lebanon.