BRITAIN and the US are ready to back a UN resolution calling for an immediate end to the fighting in Lebanon as the first step in a political settlement, diplomats said yesterday.

The transatlantic allies, which had resisted pressure to support an immediate cessation of hostilities, were “very close” last night to agreement with France on a UN resolution that could be adopted as early as this weekend.

“I am confident that by tomorrow we will be in a position to have discussions in the council on a text which actually takes us forward,” said Sir Emyr Jones-Parry, the British envoy to the UN. “Prospects now of adoption soon of a resolution have improved considerably.” A senior diplomat said that the three powers were “90 per cent” agreed on the text and could circulate a draft to the full UN Security Council today. Foreign ministers may travel to New York for the vote.

The resolution would call for an immediate halt to the fighting and spell out the conditions for a political agreement involving the deployment of an international force. But no international troops are expected to arrive until after that political agreement has been reached.

A second UN vote would be needed to authorise the deployment of a multinational force, expected to be French-led and about 15,000 strong.

Mark Malloch Brown, the British Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, spelt out last night the two-step diplomatic solution: “The first resolution is ‘stop the fighting and here are some political principles to work on’. The second resolution deals with the issue of longer- term border security, withdrawal — all the big things that need to be tackled, including drawing borders,” he said.

The change in British and US policy comes after a three-week Israeli offensive aimed at destroying Hezbollah’s military power in Lebanon. The two allies, which refuse to provide ground troops to Lebanon, have essentially agreed to back the peace plan outlined by France, which is ready to put troops on the ground.

The reversal comes after Mr Blair’s call on Tuesday for a rethink of the War on Terror and the EU foreign ministers’ communiqué calling for an “immediate cessation of hostilities”.

The resolution will lay out the principles of an eventual political settlement, including the creation of a militia-free buffer zone; implementation of UN Resolution 1559 by disarming Hezbollah; the creation of an international force; and extending Lebanese government authority across the country.

The US also wants an arms embargo on Hezbollah and international monitoring of the Syrian-Lebanese border to prevent Damascus resupplying Hezbollah. The text will also refer to a solution to the dispute over the Shebaa Farms area, claimed by Lebanon but judged part of Syria by the UN.

Diplomats concede, however, that a question mark hangs over the “interim” security arrangements. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) will be asked to monitor the truce with the possible assistance of the Lebanese Army. But Israeli troops in southern Lebanon will remain in place.

A meeting of potential contributors to a multinational force was postponed again yesterday because France, a likely leader of the force, says that it is still premature.

A confidential US proposal endorses an “immediate end to violence” followed by a “political agreement that provides the conditions for a lasting peace”, and “a security framework to provide the confidence to implement the provisions of that agreement and oversee a sustainable ceasefire”.

THE MAIN POINTS

1 Immediate end to the fighting

2 Political framework for the ceasefire

3 Creation of militia-free buffer zone

4 Disarmament of Hezbollah

5 Deployment of the Lebanese Army

6 Creation of international stabilisation force

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