News In Brief

Lebanon seeks Soviet OK for wider UN policing role

Prime Minister Rashid Karami asked the Kremlin Monday to approve an expansion of responsibilities for the 5,700-strong UN force in southern Lebanon, to speed up Israel's withdrawal. The request was made during an hour-long meeting with Vladimir Polyakov, head of the Soviet Foreign Ministry's Middle East desk. Lebanon has asked the UN Security Council in the past to strengthen the role of the UN force, but the Soviet Union has consistently opposed the proposal.

Mr. Karami told reporters he repeated Lebanon's support for the Soviet's July 29 proposal for a Middle East peace conference, rejected by the United States and Israel.