Italian government to vote on Lebanon peacekeeping contingent

The Italian government meets Monday to vote on a decree giving the final go-ahead to Italy's participation in a strengthened UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. The decree will give detailed numbers on Rome's military commitment and will also include measures to help reconstruction efforts in Lebanon, the premier's office said.

With a pledge of up to 3,000 soldiers, Italy's is the largest contingent promised so far to the expanded UNIFIL force, the UN mission that is being strengthened to help Lebanon maintain a fragile Israeli-Hizbullah ceasefire after a month of violence. (AP)