President Bush says it is urgent to quickly deploy an international force to Lebanon to maintain the cease fire between Hezbollah and Israel.

Mr. Bush says the international community must determine who will lead the force and give it robust rules of engagement as soon as possible.

He says the United States will provide logistical, command and control, and intelligence support.

Mr. Bush added the United States is expanding its aid to Lebanon to more than $230 million. He says the United States is wasting no time in helping the Lebanese people and is already providing large amounts of aid.

Meanwhile, senior U.N. diplomats are in Israel on Monday for talks on maintaining the week-long cease fire and a possible prisoner swap. Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on northern Israel last month triggered the month-long conflict.

In another development, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has asked Italy to lead the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials are voicing disappointment that other European countries have not offered larger troop contingents for the U.N. mission.

In Beirut, meanwhile, Qatar's emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, became the first head of state to visit Lebanon since the war broke out. The emir is expected to discuss potential aid to Lebanon.