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Agnelli says U.S. wants to go it alone in Mideast

LUXEMBOURG: Italian Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli, returning from a European Union peace mission to Lebanon, said on Monday the United States clearly wanted to go it alone in forging a settlement.

"I think that the Americans prefer it to be totally American," she told reporters as she entered an EU foreign ministers' meeting.

She said she hoped U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, currently trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and pro-Iranian Hizbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, would succeed.

Agnelli said she was not sure the Americans could do it alone. "I think that they will need some assistance," she said, adding that the European Union was willing to step in and help.

Agnelli, whose country currently holds the six-month presidency of the EU, flew from Syria to Lebanon on Sunday for talks with Lebanese officials about the fighting.

Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov and French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette have also been in the region, triggering some criticism that too many countries are trying to intervene.

Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Christopher have made clear that they considered a U.S. plan, details of which have not been officially made public, as the basis for a ceasefire, politely dismissing other proposals.

Agnelli's staff noted that the EU had not attempted to offer a peace deal but that the Italian foreign minister had been making contacts on behalf of the 15-nation bloc.

Entering the EU meeting on Monday, Agnelli said it was important that whatever emerged from the peace diplomacy was lasting.

"Unless it is a long-term solution, it is not a solution," she said.

The situation in Lebanon was expected to dominate the EU foreign ministers' meeting, including relations with Iran, with which the EU conducts what it called a critical dialogue.

Some countries believe that the policy of engagement with Iran, accused of sponsoring terrorism, has not borne fruit. The United States is also critical of the dialogue.

Monday's meeting was initially to include a meeting of 29 foreign ministers, including Christopher, to discuss terrorism. That segment of the EU meeting was cancelled, however, when Christopher began his Middle East shuttle diplomacy.-Reuter