Italy readies up to 3,000 troops for Lebanon

Rome, Aug 13: Italy is ready to send between 2,000 and 3,000 troops to Lebanon as part of the planned United Nations force to enforce a ceasefire, Defence Undersecretary Lorenzo Forcieri told sources yesterday.

Forcieri said it was ''realistic'' that Italy would be given vice-command of the force, which would be led by France.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema issued a joint statement earlier today to say Italy would take part in the force, which was approved by the UN Security Council yesterday.

''We will probably be sending between 2,000 and 3,000 men from all the armed forces, said Forcieri.

The UN resolution authorises up to 15,000 UN troops to move into Lebanon to enforce a ceasefire in the conflict between Hizbollah guerrillas and Israel, expanding the existing UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Prodi and D'Alema's statement said Italy ''has an interest in participating from the outset in the consultations that will be launched in coming days to determine the composition, structure and mandate of the force.'' They will meet Defence Minister Arturo Parisi tomorrow for detailed discussions on the size and nature of Italy's contingent, Prodi told reporters.

REUTERS

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