Clinton's 'encouraging news' on ceasefire

President Bill Clinton said yesterday that he hoped a cessation of fighting between Israel and guerrillas in Lebanon was "quite close", writes Patrick Cockburn.

During a meeting with President Elias Hrawi of Lebanon he said: "I've gotten some encouraging news that I can't announce now."

In the Middle East, Warren Christopher, the United States Secretary of State, went to eastern Lebanon as part of his search for a ceasefire. Travelling by car from Damascus to Shyoura, on the road to Beirut, he met Rafiq Hariri, the Lebanese Prime Minister.

Diplomats say Syria and Israel have broadly agreed not to strike at civilian targets. The sticking point is that guerrillas from Hizbollah should be stopped from attacking Israeli forces in the Israeli-occupied zone in the south of Lebanon.

"The major controversy is over the right of the resistance to pursue its operations against the Israeli occupation troops," a Lebanese official said. He added: "Syria and Lebanon will not accept putting an end to these operations."