Malaysia wants to extend UN mission in Lebanon

Kuala Lumpur, Apr 21: Malaysia wants to extend its United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon from six to nine months and more than double the number of troops serving there, a newspaper reported today quoting the armed forces chief.

Malaysia sent 360 soldiers in January to join a UN peacekeeping force monitoring a truce between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon.

Armed Forces chief Abdul Aziz Zainal said the number of soldiers would be increased from 360 to 800 and include women soldiers, the New Straits Times reported.

The extension would give the troops deployed since January more time to acclimatise and serve effectively, he said.

The deployment of women soldiers was ''to cater for security body checks on the fairer sex and better communication with the local society'', he said.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would ask the United Nations to consider the proposal, Abdul Aziz said.

Reuters