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 » Special Report | Video archive | E-mail us: Your stories | How to help civilians Q&A: Rome conference on Lebanon
 Condoleezza Rice arrives at Italy's foreign ministry in Rome. RELATEDQUICKVOTEYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSROME, Italy (CNN) -- Leaders and representatives of countries around the world are meeting in Rome to discuss how to bring an end to the conflict in Lebanon and ease the humanitarian crisis. Pressure is on to achieve a swift cease-fire, but disagreements are expected as the U.S. pushes for a longer term solution to conflict in the Middle East. CNN looks at the scope of the Rome conference and examines its likely outcome. Q: Who is attending the meeting? A: The conference gathers members of the "Lebanon Core Group," which consists of nations and organizations that want to help with the Middle East country's reconstruction and economic, political and social reforms. Its members include Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the World Bank, the European Union, Egypt, France, Russia, Britain, the United States, the United Nations and Italy. Spain, Germany and Turkey were also to attend. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Israel is not represented. The meeting is jointly chaired by Rice and Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema. Q: What is on the agenda? A: Discussions will focus on how to end the current hostilities between Lebanon and Israel and finding a solution to the conflict. The humanitarian situation in the Lebanon will also be discussed alongside the situation in Cyprus, which is struggling to cope with the influx of evacuees. The death of four U.N. military observers in an Israeli attack is also likely to be on the agenda. Q: What solutions are being offered? A: Arab and some European leaders are expected to push for an immediate cease-fire followed by the deployment of an international force. Pressure for a swift halt to hostilities has increased following the deadly bombing by Israel of a U.N. observation post. Q: Who would provide troops for an international force? A: According to The Associated Press, EU foreign and security affairs chief Javier Solana is expected to propose that a rapid reaction force be established, ideally be built around French, German and Spanish troops, supplemented by forces from Turkey, the Netherlands, Canada and Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Q: Is this likely to be agreed? A: Although Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair has been drumming up support for an international force since early on in the 15-day conflict, nations expected to contribute have shown reluctance to commit troops without a cease-fire in place. The failure of the 2,000-strong UNIFIL -- the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon -- deployed in the region since 1978 to halt the violence is expected to provide further discouragement. Meanwhile, NATO has said it would be difficult to assemble the troops needed to secure the cease-fire it would require before dispatching a larger force, AP reported. Washington has already ruled out participation in a multinational force, since its presence would likely attract attacks from a broader field of militants. Rice has also reiterated a position that a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon must come with conditions linked to a longer-term solution to problems in the Middle East, saying there is "no desire" on the part of U.S. officials to come back in weeks or months after terrorists find another way to disrupt any potential cease-fire. The U.N., however, is leading support for an immediate short-term halt to the conflict, saying the broader issues can be left to a later date. 
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