Lebanon sees major progress in talks with US

BEIRUT, Aug 11 (Reuters) Lebanese leaders today made ''major progress'' in talks with a top US official on a UN resolution to end Israel's war with Hizbollah, a senior Lebanese political source said.

''We are discussing the details. There is serious and major progress that could lead to an understanding in the next few hours,'' the source said. ''There are no more basic sticking points.'' The source, who is familiar with the talks, said there was a good chance that the UN Security Council would adopt a resolution later today.

As the diplomacy continued, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the Israeli army to expand its ground offensive into Lebanon, citing a lack of progress in the truce talks.

The Lebanese source said the resolution, in line with Lebanese demands, would authorise the reinforcement of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon to allow it to deploy with the Lebanese army in southern Lebanon, but not under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows the use of force.

The resolution would make no reference to the disputed Shebaa Farms border area. Lebanon claims the area and had asked that the enclave, which the United Nations says is Israeli-occupied Syrian territory, be placed under UN control.

At the United Nations, US ambassador John Bolton said negotiators were ''very, very close'' to an agreement on a draft resolution.

US Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, who has been shuttling between Beirut and Jerusalem, held separate talks in the Lebanese capital with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Shi'ite who has negotiated on Hizbollah's behalf.

Welch said only that he had had a ''good meeting'' with Berri.

REUTERS DKA RAI2332