The U.N. Security Council called on all Lebanese parties Friday to implement a policy disassociating themselves from any external conflicts "as an important priority," a statement that appears clearly aimed at Hezbollah which has sent fighters to Syria.

The council also reiterated its call for implementation of its resolutions which "require the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon so that there will be no weapons or authority in Lebanon" except those of the state. This is also aimed at Hizbullah fighters.

The Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday after Russia confirmed it had seized three Ukrainian naval ships by force in a strait near Moscow-annexed Crimea, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said.

The United States and Russia clashed over Iran at the U.N. Security Council overnight as a third straight day of pro-regime rallies were held following a wave of deadly protests.

Ukraine redoubled its efforts Wednesday to see Russia stripped of its veto power on the U.N. Security Council when the global body's General Assembly meets in the coming weeks.

Numerous nations are upset with Russia for being one of the five permanent council members that together with China has blocked a series of U.N. efforts to impose sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.

The U.N. Security Council is weighing a U.S. request to slap sanctions on South Sudan's army chief and a rebel commander for violating a ceasefire agreed under a new peace deal, diplomats said Monday.

The global travel ban and assets freeze target South Sudan army chief Paul Malong and rebel commander Johnson Olony for their role in the continued fighting.

Russia has lifted its objections to a U.N. investigation into chemical attacks in Syria, clearing the way for the probe to begin, diplomats said Thursday.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution August 7 approving a joint investigation by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Iran on Thursday welcomed a U.N. peace plan aimed at ending the four-year war in its ally Syria, saying President Bashar Assad's regime needed to be directly involved.

"This new plan is seen as a step by regional and international players toward a better understanding of the reality on the ground and on the political level," foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham was quoted as saying by news agency ISNA.

The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Friday to set up a panel to identify who is behind deadly chlorine gas attacks in Syria, which the West blames on the Damascus regime.

Russia, Syria's veto-wielding ally, endorsed the measure as did the rest of the 15-member council -- a rare display of unity over how to address the conflict, which has left more than 240,000 people dead.

Lebanon has submitted an official request to the United Nations chief to extend the term of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, reported al-Mustaqbal daily on Sunday.

The request was made in accordance to U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 and without making alterations to UNIFIL’s mission.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday made an "urgent" appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin not to veto a U.N. Security Council resolution to try those who shot down flight MH17 over Ukraine.

Rutte's office said he telephoned Putin, ahead of the vote in New York later Wednesday, to seek his backing for setting up an international tribunal to try the as-yet unidentified suspects behind the downing of the Malaysia Airlines jet that killed 298 people in July of last year.