France to send 1st contingent for new UN force in Lebanon

France will send its first troop battalion and a shipment of tanks and heavy armor for the strengthened UN force in Lebanon on Sept. 4, the French defense minister said Thursday. Troops will leave the central French city of Orleans on Sept. 4, they will arrive in southern Lebanon on Sept. 10, and will be operational on Sept. 15, Michele Alliot-Marie told a news conference.

She did not say how many troops would be heading out. France, which will initially lead the strengthened force, has about 400 troops in the UNIFIL force now and plans to expand that to 2,000. (AP)