Italy says Israeli troops can soon leave Lebanon

TEL AVIV, Sep 8 (Reuters) Italy said today it would soon deploy more troops to southern Lebanon that along with the dispatch of other European soldiers would comprise an ''effective ground force'', opening the way for all Israeli troops to leave.

Israel has been gradually withdrawing forces from southern Lebanon after a ceasefire on August 14 halted 34 days of war with the Lebanese Hizbollah guerrilla group.

''I think that in a week to 10 days it is possible to have an effective ground force. Spanish and French troops are deploying, it will be possible to withdraw Israeli troops,'' Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said before meeting Israel's Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

D'Alema said Italy had deployed 1,000 troops to Lebanon, adding ''I think in a few days we are going to deploy 2,500''. He did not make clear if the 2,500 included the initial deployment.

''I think now we have a task to show that a multilateral force can be effective, can stabilise peace in Lebanon and can create more confidence among the Israeli public,'' D'Alema said.

U N Secretary General Kofi Annan has said Israel should complete its withdrawal once 5,000 U N troops were on the ground. The U N force currently numbers around 3,100.

Israeli media have said the pullout was likely to finish by the start of the Jewish New Year, which begins on September 22.

Under the U N Security Council resolution that halted the war, up to 15,000 U N troops are to join 16,000 Lebanese soldiers deploying in the south to secure a border zone free of any Israeli or armed Hizbollah presence.

Italy is the largest contributor to the U N force.

The war was sparked when Hizbollah seized two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border raid on July 12.

Reuters PB DB1258