Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Mike Gapes (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 25 July 2006 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Middle East

Question: Ministers have been in the region and the US Secretary of State is now there. Can my right hon. Friend tell us what discussions there have been about the proposal for an international force in the south of Lebanon and whether that is being worked up in such a way that it will be introduced in the near future, rather than waiting several months until the conflict has subsided?

Answer: There have been extensive discussions over many days—since very early on after the crisis began—about what contribution an international force could make, how it could be deployed and the range of arrangements, and that work continues intensively. As my hon. Friend and, I think, the House will fully understand, it will take time to put in place a substantial force. What I take to be the underlying thrust of his question is that we should all be seeking as early an end as possible to any hostilities or violence, and that that should not be linked to a full force being put in place, which might indeed take some time to arrange.

Secondary information