CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush said Monday any Mideast cease-fire must prevent Hezbollah from strengthening its grip in southern Lebanon, asserting “it's time to address root causes of problems.”

Bush urged the United Nations to work quickly to approve a resolution to stop hostilities that have been raging between Israel and Hezbollah for more than three weeks, killing hundreds.

A draft proposed by the United States and France faced opposition from Lebanon and other Arab nations because it would not call for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

Bush indicated he wants Israel to stay until an international force is deployed that can assist Lebanon in taking over control of the southern part of the country, where Hezbollah's operations are based.

“Whatever happens in the U.N., we must not create a vacuum into which Hezbollah and its sponsors are able to move more weapons,” Bush said in a joint news conference with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “Sometimes the world likes to take the easy route in order to solve a problem. Our view is, it's time to address root causes of problems. And to create a vacuum is unacceptable.”