UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the Security Council had "frank discussions" on the world body's role in ensuring a speedy resolution of the current crisis in the Middle East in a meeting Tuesday, the United Nations said in a statement.

They discussed the cessation of hostilities, a ceasefire and political framework for a settlement, the composition and deployment of a stabilization force for Lebanon and the humanitarian situation, said the statement.

During the meeting, the participants discussed various concepts about a force for Lebanon and Annan urged the envoys to put their differences aside.

The secretary-general was satisfied with the outcome of the discussions, which permitted clarification of the critical issues and discussions of timelines, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the United Nations announced Tuesday that Jean-Marie Guehenno, the UN undersecretary-general for peacekeeping, will chair a session on Thursday among nations who may contribute troops to a stabilization force in southern Lebanon.

The meeting, called by Annan last weekend, had originally been intended for Monday.

Source: Xinhua