UNITED NATIONS, Aug 21: The United States is planning to introduce a new UN resolution on disarming Hezbollah in southern Lebanon but US Ambassador John Bolton said on Monday this should not hold up the quick deployment of UN peacekeepers.

Bolton said getting an expanded UN force on the ground is the most urgent priority because of the fragility of the cease-fire agreement that came into effect on August 14 under UN Resolution 1701 which calls for the 2,000-strong UN force to be expanded to 15,000 troops.

The UN says it wants at least 3,500 new troops on the ground in south Lebanon by August 28, but countries that are potential troop contributors have expressed concern about the rules of engagement — and exactly what troops would be required to do, especially regarding the disarming of Hezbollah.

While several Muslim nations have pledged troops to the new force, there have been no major pledges from European countries, which the US wants to ensure that the UN contingent is balanced.

The European Union has scheduled a meeting on Wednesday to discuss possible contributions to the force, known as Unifil.

Whether the prospect of a new resolution on disarming Hezbollah could break that impasse remains to be seen.

—AP