U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch held talks Friday with the Lebanese prime minister, who said afterward there was «slight» progress on a cease-fire plan to end the monthlong war between Israel and Hezbollah. Welch, who has been shuffling between Jerusalem and Beirut, did not make any comments after his meeting with Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. He also visited Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Hezbollah's de facto negotiator. Asked by reporters whether there was any breakthrough in talks to end the fighting, Saniora said: «There is slight progress.» He did not elaborate. An aide said he had no information on the Saniora-Welch talks. The Lebanese government and an Arab League team is pushing to amend a U.S.-French draft resolution to end the conflict that began on July 12. Negotiators reported progress on the cease-fire plan _ which has been stuck over a timetable for Israeli withdrawal. America's ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, said a vote was possible Friday, the Associated Press reported.
