The draft, obtained by The Associated Press, emphasizes the need for greater progress in resolving these issues and reiterates the Security Council's intention "to consider further steps to contribute to the implementation of a permanent cease-fire and a long-term solution."

Earlier this month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the council to extend the mandate of the force, praising the troops for helping to establish security in southern Lebanon following the conflict last summer.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Saniora sent a letter asking the council to renew the mandate of the force, known as UNIFIL, for a year, and that is what the resolution would do.

The current mandate of the force - comprising 11,428 ground troops, 2,000 maritime personnel, 185 staff officers and 20 local staffers - expires on Aug. 31.

The U.N. force, along with 15,000 Lebanese troops, was deployed along Lebanon's border with Israel to enforce the Security Council resolution that ended the Israeli-Hezbollah war, which killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon and 159 people on the Israeli side.

The draft appeals to all parties to respect the cessation of hostilities and the U.N.-drawn Blue Line boundary between Israel and Lebanon.

It emphasizes the need for further coordination between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army in the southern border region to establish "an area free of any unauthorized armed personnel, assets and weapons." It also condemns all terrorist attacks on UNIFIL.

Ban had earlier cited "the vicious attack" on June 24 that killed six peacekeepers belonging to the Spanish contingent whose armored personnel carrier in southern Lebanon was struck by a bomb. It was the first such attack against UNIFIL. -AP