By Carol Giacomo
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with U.N. officials
on Friday and was expected to outline her concept for resolving the crisis in
the Middle East before leaving for the region on Sunday.
At the start of a meeting with a three-man mission sent to the
region last week by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Rice reiterated concern about fighting between
Israel and Hizbollah militants but did not call for
an end to the conflict.
"Obviously, we are all very concerned about the
situation in the Middle East and want to find a way forward that will
contribute to a stable and democratic and peaceful Middle East," she said
as she posed for pictures with the U.N. team.
Rice plans to leave for the Middle East
on Sunday and begin a round of visits there on Monday, diplomatic sources in Washington
and New York said.
She is expected to speak to reporters later in Washington
on Friday on her trip and what she expects to accomplish, the sources said.
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton told reporters Rice wanted
"to get an understanding of how their meetings went" before her trip.
Washington has
to date resisted international pressure to support U.N. calls to end or at
least suspend the fighting to stop the casualties, send in aid and allow
negotiations.
Annan delivered a series of
proposals to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday, but Bolton
rejected his proposal for a cessation of hostilities.
Hizbollah on July 12 captured two
Israeli soldiers, triggering an intense military response by Israel,
followed by Hizbollah missiles raining on northern Israel.
Annan acknowledged that the
fighting would not stop soon but said it was imperative to spare civilian lives
and at least "establish safe corridors" for relief workers. French
President Jacques Chirac has made a similar appeal.
To the Security Council, Annan
called for an "expanded peacekeeping force" in southern Lebanon
so Beirut's army could control
territory on the Israeli border but gave no details.
He blamed Hizbollah for holding
"an entire nation hostage" and Israel
for using excessive force. More than 300 Lebanese have died and 600 are
wounded. Some 29 Israelis have died and 200 been wounded.
Posted: 7/21/06
Source: Reuters
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