ROME CONFERENCE ON LEBANON

Leaders and representatives of countries around the world are meeting in Rome to discuss how to bring an end to the conflict in Lebanon and ease the humanitarian crisis. Pressure is on to achieve a swift cease-fire, but disagreements are expected as the U.S. pushes for a longer term solution to conflict in the Middle East.

The conference gathers members of the "Lebanon Core Group," which consists of nations and organizations that want to help with the Middle East country's reconstruction and economic, political and social reforms.

Its members include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the World Bank, the European Union, Egypt, France, Russia, Britain, the United States, the United Nations and Italy. Spain, Germany and Turkey were also to attend.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Israel is not represented.

The meeting is jointly chaired by Rice and Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema.
The agenda is to discuss how to end the current hostilities between Lebanon and Israel and finding a solution to the conflict. The humanitarian situation in the Lebanon will also be discussed alongside the situation in Cyprus, which is struggling to cope with the influx of evacuees. The death of four U.N. military observers in an Israeli attack is also likely to be on the agenda.

Possible soulutions, Arab and some European leaders are expected to push for an immediate cease-fire followed by the deployment of an international force. Pressure for a swift halt to hostilities has increased following the deadly bombing by Israel of a U.N. observation post.

According to The Associated Press, EU foreign and security affairs chief Javier Solana is expected to propose that a rapid reaction force be established, ideally be built around French, German and Spanish troops, supplemented by forces from Turkey, the Netherlands, Canada and Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia.