At U.N., France Presses Pullback Of Israeli TroopsU.S. Stresses Importance of Timely ActionUNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 -- France on Wednesday introduced elements of a draft resolution urging Israel to begin withdrawing thousands of troops from southern Lebanon "at the earliest" possible date, as the United States warned that the next 24 hours are crucial because of Israel's threat to launch a ground invasion of Lebanon.
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In a shift, France backed the Lebanese position, proposing new language that calls on Israel to begin withdrawing behind Lebanon's U.N.-demarcated border with Israel while the Lebanese army, supported by a U.N. peacekeeping mission, starts deploying in southern Lebanon.
But the United States has backed Israel's demand that it be permitted to remain in southern Lebanon until a new, larger and more muscular international force is brought in to supervise the 50-mile border and guarantee that Hezbollah can no longer attack Israeli cities. Bolton insisted that the United States is committed to ensuring an "effective security presence in the southern part of Lebanon as the Israeli forces withdraw."
"We don't want Hezbollah to re-infiltrate the southern part of Lebanon," he added.
A senior Arab delegation pressed Lebanon's case for an immediate withdrawal of troops, saying their presence threatens stability in the region. The delegation also opposed U.S. and French plans to send a multinational force to Lebanon. "There is a fear of more chaos in the region," Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa told reporters.
article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/09/AR2006080900445_pf.html