French President Jacques Chirac called on Friday for an all-out effort toward a U.N.-backed cease-fire in the conflict in Lebanon and a political agreement.

Chirac spoke by telephone with British Prime Minister Tony Blair,and the two men "stressed the need to very quickly reach an agreement on the (U.N.) resolution" to end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the president's office said.

France has led efforts toward an immediate cease-fire and a political agreement before international peacekeepers are deployed.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice predicted Thursday that a U.N. Security Council resolution would be approved within days that would include a cease-fire and describe principles for a lasting peace. The plan to end the conflict could be embodied in two resolutions instead of one.

Source: Xinhua