ANNAN MULLS PEACEKEEPING CONTRIBUTORS

By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press Writer Fri Jul 28, 1:55 PM ET

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for a meeting Monday of countries that could contribute troops to an international force on the Lebanon- Israel border.

France, Britain and other Security Council members are pressing for a resolution demanding an immediate halt to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah fighters, and establishing a force to help the Lebanese army take control of southern Lebanon, where the militant Islamic group is based.

Diplomats said informal discussions were expected to continue over the weekend and the council could begin discussing a draft resolution in earnest next week.

But the council first needs to know which countries, if any, are prepared to provide troops.

Annan told reporters Friday that he has decided to hold a potential troop contributors meeting on Monday.

"Obviously it will be preliminary discussions because we do not have the mandate of the Security Council yet," Annan said.

The invitation list is expected to include contributors to the current 2,000-member U.N. force in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, and the 25 members of the European Union, which has publicly offered to help.

France, Italy, Germany, Ireland and Turkey have said they are considering joining a U.N.-run multinational force. Diplomats in the continent's other capitals are discussing whether to add their countries to the roster ahead of a hastily arranged EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.