UN Mideast deal close but could come apart again
The United States and France were close to agreement on Friday on a U.N. resolution aimed at halting the bloodshed in Lebanon and Israel but objections from combatants could force another delay. Throughout Thursday, negotiators believed they had achieved a breakthrough. But the deal came apart when Beirut rejected deployment of additional U.N. troops under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which allows for the use of force rather than just self-defense. Full Story