UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- A meeting at the United Nations to form the groundwork for a stabilization force in Lebanon has been delayed for the second time this week.
The world organization said Wednesday it would postpone indefinitely a meeting, scheduled for Thursday, of potential troop contributors.
A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Ahmad Fawzi, said in the absence of an agreed political framework to end the conflict, discussions about the stabilization force would be premature.
The meeting was originally scheduled for Monday, but was postponed to Thursday. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton told reporters Monday the delay was due to logistical considerations.
On Wednesday, Fawzi informed reporters the meeting had been called off altogether.
A list of possible troop contributors has yet to be officially released.
France has thus far refused to take part in the meeting, calling instead for an immediate cease-fire, followed by the creation of a political framework before troops are sent to the war-torn region.
Israel has made clear it is unwilling to return to the political dynamic that existed prior to the start of the present conflict, July 12.
While the United States has been a reliable backer of Israel, top U.N. officials, including Annan, have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The United Nations' call has been backed by the remaining four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
Although it seems the United Nations is at an impasse, diplomats said there has been significant progress towards agreement on a plan of action.
"I think it's important in this case to underline the intensity with which we are trying to resolve our differences," said U.S. Ambassador John Bolton.
