New York  - The United States pitched a plan on Tuesday for a comprehensive solution to end the Israel-Hamas conflict by engaging the warring parties to abide by a durable and sustainable ceasefire.

The plan would reopen crossings into the Gaza Strip and end all weapons smuggling by Hamas.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the UN Security Council in New York that a durable ceasefire would return "true calm" between the two sides and end Hamas' firing of missiles into Israel.

New York  - The UN Security Council late Tuesday held an emergency session with envoys from 25 countries including 14 foreign ministers, to hear demands for an end of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

The conflict since last month in the Gaza Strip has left hundreds dead and more than 2,000 people wounded.

Washington - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is heading to New York on Tuesday to attend an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Rice will push for a three-point ceasefire that would include a halt to Hamas rocket attacks against Israel, the opening of crossings into the isolated enclave and address tunnels used by Hamas to smuggle weapons into Gaza.

New York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he plans to discuss with US President George W Bush the draft resolution hammered out by Arab governments calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Ban is to have lunch with Bush at the White House, providing a unique opportunity to discuss the war in Gaza Strip, fresh from his discussions with Arab foreign ministers at UN headquarters.

Washington - US President George W said Monday he has authorized the US military to conduct airlift missions into Sudan's Darfur region to transport vehicles and equipment for the UN peacekeeping mission.

Bush approved US support for the mission before meeting with Sudanese Vice President Salva Kiir, a rival of President Omar al-Bashir. Al-Bashir has been the target of US sanctions for his failure to reign in the government-backed militias waging war in Darfur.

New York  - Arab governments on Monday called on the UN Security Council to order an end to hostilities in Gaza Strip, hoping that the group would overcome opposition by the United States for such a move.

Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Arab foreign ministers attending meetings at UN headquarters in New York planned to submit a new draft resolution and ask the 15-nation council to adopt it on Tuesday.

Al-Malki said the Arab ministers were working through a "proper channel" to convince Washington to support the text.