MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia cannot support a draft UN Security Council resolution on the conflict in Lebanon that is "useless" for the Lebanese government, Russia's UN envoy said Tuesday.

"For us of course, a draft that is useless to the Lebanese side must not be adopted since it will only lead to the continuation of the conflict," Vitaly Churkin said in comments broadcast on the Vesti-24 news channel.

"There are now intensive efforts... being made to try and come up with a draft resolution that is more acceptable to the Lebanese government. It's hard for me to say when this will happen, since the Israeli side has to agree," Churkin said.

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have faltered after Lebanon objected to a draft UN Security Council resolution that called for an end to hostilities but would leave Israeli forces temporarily in charge of a swathe of territory in southern Lebanon.

France, one of the co-sponsors of the draft, said it was prepared to accept amendments proposed by Lebanon with the support of the 22-member Arab League.

But the United States, the other sponsor of the draft, seemed less willing to consider changes, in particular Lebanon's demand that the resolution insist on the withdrawal of Israeli forces immediately after a ceasefire.

Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council along with Britain, China, France and the United States.