Lebanon cabinet says too early to discuss UN draft

BEIRUT, Aug 5 (Reuters) Lebanon's cabinet said today it would not compromise on the country's sovereignty but that it was too early to discuss a U.N. draft resolution calling for an end to fighting between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas.

''Even this draft is not final ... we will not discuss the intentions of this side or that,'' said Information Minister Ghazi Aridi after a cabinet meeting.

Responding to a question, Aridi said the government would not compromise on Lebanon's sovereignty or accept any Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory.

''None of us will give up anything to do with national sovereignty, rights, dignity,'' he said, adding the government was committed ''to Lebanon's territory, Lebanon's liberation, the withdrawal of the occupation from Lebanese land''.

The draft distributed today calls for an end to the fighting as a first step towards a political settlement. Israeli troops have been fighting Hizbollah guerrillas inside southern Lebanon in a 25-day-old conflict.

REUTERS DH KP0128