Blair optimistic on UN resolution
Tony Blair is said to be optimistic about achieving a UN resolution on the Middle East within the next 24 hours.
The prime minister, currently on holiday with his family in Barbados, is continuing to hold phone conversations with other world leaders in search of agreement on the timetable for Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
A spokeswoman for Mr Blair said he had held a “productive” conversation with French president Jacques Chirac, in which they both recognised the need for “a rapid agreement” to halt the fighting between Hizbullah and Israel.
This intent is demonstrated by Margaret Beckett’s decision to cut short her holiday in France to travel to the UN headquarters in New York.
She will attempt to resolve disagreement over the timing of a ceasefire. Lebanon wants an immediate ceasefire followed by the withdrawal of Israeli troops. But Israel, backed by the US, wants its soldiers to remain until an international force can be deployed to prevent a vacuum forming in which Hizbullah could rearm.
Ahead of her visit, Mrs Beckett said: “Following recent developments in the Middle East, I am travelling to New York to reinforce my efforts, working closely with my foreign ministerial colleagues to reach agreement on a resolution which would bring about a cessation of the violence in Israel and Lebanon.
“The situation is urgent and we need now to complete the task. I and my colleagues in the British government have tried, and continue to try, to play our part in getting agreement in New York.
“The people of Lebanon and Israel are suffering. I am very concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in the area. We need to ensure that we make urgent progress in establishing safe corridors to move people and resources safely to where they are most needed in southern Lebanon.”
UN secretary general Koffi Annan believes the security council should be able to adopt a resolution by the end of the week.
A spokesman for the secretary general said the fighting must stop to save civilians from the nightmare they have endured for the past four weeks.
