EU says ready to help Lebanon security tasks

LEVI, Finland, Oct 3: The European Union is ready to help Lebanon with a range of security issues from border control to policing and prison security following a request from the government in Beirut, officials said today.

Prime Minister Fouad Siniora requested assistance from EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana earlier this week and the bloc's defence ministers approved preparations for such a mission at talks in northern Finland, EU officials said.

''We are looking at the details of a possible EU mission in support of the Lebanese army,'' Solana told the meeting.

''We need to know the needs which the Lebanese government wishes us to take into account,'' he added, according to his speaking notes. He added that a team would go to Lebanon as soon as possible to get more information.

The security mission would run alongside the newly expanded U N peacekeeping force monitoring the truce between Israel and Hizbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon which ended a 34-day war.

EU nations agreed in August to provide the core of the U N force, called UNIFIL, which will have up to 15,000 troops at full strength.

REUTERS