Italy readies up to 3,000 troops for Lebanon
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 Reuters on Saturday.
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 on Saturday to say Italy would take part in the force, which was approved by the UN Security Council on Friday. (Reuters)
