Moscow Plans A Diversion

Russia is planning a new Middle East ceasefire proposal of its own, based on a 72-hour "humanitarian truce".

United States U.N. Ambassador John Bolton has responded by saying

he did not think it was helpful to distract attention from negotiations over the US-French draft.

"We're not playing games here," said Bolton. "This is very serious."

Bolton said it was still possible that the council would be ready to vote Friday on the US-French proposal. (AP)

Le Monde reports that Dan Gillerman, Israel's ambassador to the U.N.,

considers that Russia's call is "a bad idea". He says he has met with Mr (Vitaly) Churkin, to "explain to him that a ceasefire of this kind would fulfil only one objective - to allow Hizballah to regroup and regather its strength." (my tr.)