Rice pushes for softer U.N. Gaza measure

From NBC’s Libby Leist NEW YORK -- Secretary Condoleezza Rice is bouncing from meeting to meeting with European and Arab Foreign Ministers here at the United Nations, trying to convince Arab leaders not to push for a Security Council resolution on the crisis in Gaza, but to accept a less forceful "presidential statement." Rice's efforts seem to be failing, however. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal has just told reporters that a presidential statement is not acceptable to the Arabs. A "presidential statement" is an official document from the U.N. Security Council. It is generally viewed as more of a political statement than a legally binding resolution. Therefore a less powerful display from the Security Council. According to a Saudi diplomat, the Arab leaders are pressing for a resolution that calls for an immediate end to the violence and then the establishment of a mechanism to police the border crossings and deal with the smuggling issue. But, the U.S. wants a mechanism ... (link)