U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Ric expressed support Thursday for an immediate cease-fire in Lebanon as the first phase in ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. It was the most concrete signal yet that the U.S. may be willing to compromise on the stalemate over how to end the fighting. Moving closer to the position that France and other European countries are taking, Rice predicted that a resolution would be approved within days that would include a cease-fire and describe principles for a lasting peace. On CNN's "Larry King Live," Rice said the U.S. is moving "towards being able to do this in phases that will permit first an end or a stoppage in the hostilities and based on the establishment on some very important principles for how we move forward," according to a partial transcript of the show being aired Thursday night. Almost since the outbreak of the fighting on July 12, the Bush administration has insisted that a cease-fire and steps aimed at creating a long-term peace be worked out simultaneously. These included establishing an international peacekeeping force and requiring the disarmament of the Hezbollah group. "We need to end the hostilities in a way that points forward a direction for a sustainable peace," said Rice, who provided little precision about what a compromise resolution might say. The measure that France and the U.S. were working on would be the first of two resolutions aimed at achieving a permanent cease-fire and a long-term solution to the conflict. "We're certainly getting close," she said. "We're working with the French very closely. We're working with others."
