PARIS (AFP) — France and the United States agreed in succession a proposed UN Security Council call for a ceasefire in Lebanon as Israel hammered the rural parts with what police described as the heaviest bombardment of the 25-day-old conflict.

PARIS (AFP) — France and the United States agreed in succession a proposed UN Security Council call for a ceasefire in Lebanon as Israel hammered the rural parts with what police described as the heaviest bombardment of the 25-day-old conflict.

"An accord has been set up between the French and Americans onward the draft resolution on the Middle East prepared by the agency of France to call for a entire cessation of hostilities and work towards permanent ceasefire and long-term solution," French President Jacques Chirac's office said Saturday.

The resolution was to be submitted on France to the Security Council later Saturday "in the interest of securing the widest agreement," it added, without disclosing details.

The Security Council will have consultations at 1900 GMT Saturday following the US-French agreement, the council president's office said.

According to council deed a resolution could be adopted no earlier than Sunday.

Earlier, UN chief