Italy expects increase in French force for Lebanon

ROME, Aug 24 (Reuters) Italy's Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema expects French President Jacques Chirac to announce a ''substantial increase'' in the French contribution to a U.N. force for Lebanon in an address due later today.

''The latest news is that tonight Chirac should announce a substantial increase,'' D'Alema said at a joint news conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Rome.

REUTERS LL PC1849