Associated Press United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, right, talks with U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard at the U.N. headquarters yesterday en route to make his appeal to the Security Council for the deployment of an armed international force to Palestinian areas.

UNITED NATIONS - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to the international community yesterday to quickly deploy a "robust" armed force to halt the Israeli-Palestinian conflict's "descent into bloodletting."

Annan told the U.N. Security Council in a closed session that a force large enough to take "decisive action" is essential to ending the deadly cycle of attacks and reprisals between Israelis and Palestinians and helping restore security.

The multinational force should be assembled by countries willing to supply troops and should have "a robust mandate," he said, adding later, "I expect the United States to play an important role."

The Security Council also should authorize its operation under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which sanctions the use of military force if necessary, Annan said.

"A multinational force is essential to a gradual restoration of trust between the two sides, which is so vital if further steps toward a broad framework for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace are to be taken," Annan said.

The Palestinians have been agitating for international observers since the Mideast violence increased more than 18 months ago, but Israel has resisted, agreeing only to accept a small number of U.S. observers to monitor a cease-fire.

"Israel cannot accept international forces here," Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on yesterday.

Annan urged Israel and the Palestinians to cooperate with the force, saying it was in their interests to have multinational troops on the ground.

For example, the force would help Israel stop suicide bombings and place "an international spotlight on any extremist Palestinian groups that try to undermine a cease-fire by continuing to engage in terrorism."

After the briefing, Annan said, "I was encouraged by the response I received." He said council members now would consult their governments on the issue.

The force should help monitor a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank, which have been attacked in the latest offensive, to positions Israel held before the violence erupted in September 2000, Annan said.

The multinational force should create secure conditions in Palestinian territories so economic activity, humanitarian aid and the rebuilding of Palestinian Authority institutions, including those concerning law and order, can resume, he said.

It also would work "to create a stable environment to permit the resumption of negotiations aimed at achieving a political settlement," Annan said.

After Annan's briefing, the council discussed a new Arab-backed resolution demanding an immediate Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities, an end to the siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and a U.N. investigation into the deaths and destruction in the Jenin refugee camp.

The Palestinian U.N. observer, Nasser Al-Kidwa, demanded a vote on the resolution yesterday, accusing Israel of defying the council's previous orders to pull troops and tanks out of West Bank towns and cities, including Ramallah, where Arafat is encircled.

The council scheduled an open meeting on the Middle East for yesterday afternoon.

A U.S. official said Wednesday the United States would veto the resolution. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington suffered from "resolution fatigue" and believed there should be more action in the region instead of words from New York.

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Mikhail Wehbe said, "We will see what we can do with our colleagues from the U.S. We are in a dialogue."

He added that he will push for a vote yesterday or today.

The council has approved three resolutions in just over three weeks - the latest on April 4 - outlining a blueprint for ending the Israeli-Palestinian violence, returning to negotiations and reaching a peace deal that would establish a Palestinian state.

It has demanded an immediate cease-fire and an Israeli troop withdrawal "without delay."