The 15-member council held a first round of discussions on the draft text, which had been tabled by Syria, Greenstock told reporters outside the council chamber.

"Most of the members of the council who spoke wished to have time to consult their capitals on the draft," he said, indicating the draft would face considerable difficulties.

"One delegation made it clear that they would have considerabledifficulties with the draft," he added, without specifying the country in question.

According to diplomats attending the closed meeting, the UnitedStates has insisted that a draft condemning Israel was unhelpful and that the US would oppose it if it came to a vote.

With a US veto looming, diplomats doubted that an early vote could be possible at the council's next meeting.

The draft, supported by a group of Arab delegations, called foran immediate Israeli troop withdrawal. The proposal was formally submitted to the council by Syria, the only country in the Arab group that holds a council seat.

The draft stated that the council was "gravely concerned at theextrajudicial execution" in Gaza City and "alarmed at the reoccupation of Palestinian cities" by Israel's armed forces.

It appealed to both Israelis and Palestinians to fully cooperate in efforts to end the violence and resume peace talks, and reiterated the council's support for the efforts of the diplomatic "Quartet" on the Middle East peace process.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2002)