Putin talks with Iran’s president about UN Mideast resolution

AFP : Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke Friday to his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about Russia’s proposal for a UN resolution on the crisis in Lebanon, which was criticized by the United States and Israel. MOSCOW, (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke Friday to his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad about Russia’s proposal for a UN resolution on the crisis in Lebanon, which was criticized by the United States and Israel.

During a telephone conversation, “at the request of the Iranian president, Vladimir Putin spoke about the diplomatic efforts undertaken by Russia to bring an end to the bloodshed,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

The proposed Russian resolution presented to the United Nations Security Council called for an immediate halt to hostilities for 72 hours for humanitarian reasons, the Kremlin said.

The Russian proposal, competing with the Franco-US draft, was criticized by Washington and Israel who accuse Iran of supporting the Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

The Security Council is expected to consider the Franco-US plan later Friday.

It is built around a formula that would see Israeli troops gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon and be simultaneously replaced by 15,000 Lebanese troops backed up by a strengthened version of the UN force, UNIFIL, which is already deployed in the area.