New York, Aug 23, SPA -- The United States on Tuesday urged quick action to form an expanded international buffer force to maintain peace along the Israel-Lebanon border.“We urge potential troop contributing countries to expedite their internal decision-making processes as we strive to reach our goal of an expanded 15,000-member international force,” U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said at a Security Council meeting on the Middle East.“It is imperative that we move as quickly as possible to secure the peace by enhancing UNIFIL (U.N. interim force in Lebanon) and providing robust rules of engagement,” Bolton said.“Delay in this case does not serve the interests of anyone except those who oppose a sovereign, free, and democratic Lebanon, one which is no longer used as a base to launch terrorist attacks against Israel, killing its innocent civilians,” Bolton said. The United Nations wants 3,500 additional international peacekeepers in southern Lebanon by the end of the month and has mandated a total force of 5,000. Despite intense negotiations since a truce was established on August 14 between Israel and Hezbollah and warnings that it could break apart if more peacekeepers fail to deploy rapidly, few European countries have made firm commitments.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/384466