France has unveiled a proposal at the United Nations to end the fighting in Georgia.

After a fifth day of deadlocked meetings in the UN Security Council, French diplomats circulated a draft resolution on Monday night calling for an "immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities and the complete withdrawal or Russian and Georgian forces to their positions prior to August 7."

The text mirrored the proposal being presented by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Moscow.

It stressed the "urgent need for all parties to refrain from further use of force."

It also reaffirmed "the commitment of all (UN) member states to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders."

The draft "calls on all parties to the conflict to engage immediately in negotiations aimed at finding a peaceful and durable solution."

France circulated the proposal to the 15 Security Council members after close consulations with the United States and EU partners.

Irakli Alasania, Georgia's UN representative, said his country "fully agrees" with the French proposal.

But it got a frosty reception from Russia, which has veto power in the Security Council.

Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN representative, complained the text contained "no reference to Georgian aggression or Georgian atrocities."

"I cannot see us accepting this draft of a resolution," he said.

France has taken over the lead in UN diplomacy from the United States, which wanted to force an early vote on a tougher resolution that would almost certainly have provoked a Russian veto.

French diplomats are seeking a text that can win Russian backing.

"We do not think the council is a place for confrontation. We want to go beyond that," said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, France's deputy UN ambassador.

"This is what we are discussing with both Georgia and Russia. We have had favourable reaction from the Georgian side. We hope it will be equally responsive and favourable on the Russian side," he said.

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