The UN Security Council discussed on Saturday a U.S.-French draft resolution that calls for "full cessation of hostilities" by Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon which have been involved in a bloody conflict since July 12.

Ghana's UN Ambassador Nana Effah-Apenteng told reporters after the consultations that the council members' reaction to the draft was "generally positive".

The council recognizes that "time is of the essence, so we have to move very fast to adopt a resolution and bring the hostilities to an end," said the Ghanaian envoy.

His French counterpart, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, said he was" encouraged by the first reactions," adding "my impression is that the draft has been well received."

Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-nasser of Qatar, the council's sole Arab nation, said there are still some points that need "more clarification", such as the timing of an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and the issue of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel.

Al-nasser also called on the council to be "more fair" in dealing with the matter instead of only "pushing on one side".

The UN Security Council is expected to hold more rounds of consultations on the draft before it can be put to vote. UN diplomats said they expect the council to adopt a resolution in the next few days.

A second resolution is expected to follow in a couple of weeks after the first one is adopted, setting conditions for a permanent ceasefire and authorizing an international force.

U.S. and French ambassadors to the United Nations had been involved for the past few days in exclusive discussions on a France-sponsored draft that would call for an "immediate cessation of hostilities" and set conditions for a permanent cease-fire and a lasting political settlement.

Source: Xinhua