UN Mideast deal close but could come apart again

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 11 (Reuters) The United States and France were close to agreement today on a UN resolution aimed at halting the bloodshed in Lebanon and Israel but objections from combatants could force another delay.

Throughout yesterday, negotiators believed they had achieved a breakthrough. But the deal came apart when Beirut rejected deployment of additional UN troops under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which allows for the use of force rather than just self-defense.

US Ambassador John Bolton and French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere worked late into the evening to change some wording in their UN Security Council draft that would be sent to Lebanon and Israel for their approval overnight.

Meanwhile, Russia, impatient at the non-stop negotiations, introduced a council resolution calling for a 72-hour truce so humanitarian supplies could reach civilians suffering from the five-week war between Hizbollah militia and Israel.

More than 1,000 Lebanese and 121 Israelis have been killed.

''War is raging in Lebanon and the humanitarian situation is getting catastrophic,'' Churkin said.

If the US-French resolution were adopted, he said, he would withdraw his measure.

However, Bolton said of the Russian text, ''I don't think it is helpful to divert attention. We are seeking to get a permanent and sustainable solution with the approach that we and the French have been taking.'' US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left for the United Nations today hoping for a vote the same day, spokesman Sean McCormack said. ''We still have work to do. We are getting closer, but we still have to close out a resolution,'' he said.

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