"We would like to see 3,000 to 3,500 troops within 10 days to two weeks," said Hedi Annabi, the assistant secretary-general for UN peacekeeping operations.

The advance team will help consolidate the cessation of hostilities and start the process of the Israeli withdrawal and deployment of the Lebanese forces, Annabi told reporters at UN headquarters.

No timetable has been set for the deployment of the force, said Annabi, adding that it depends on how the contributing countries would respond to a call for their contribution as early as possible.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1701 on Friday, authorizing that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, which currently has less than 2,000 troops, will be beefed up to 15,000.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Monday that he had not yet received firm commitments from countries who have said they may contribute troops to the enhanced UN peacekeeping force.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday that no formal offers had yet been received but the United Nations continues holding technical meetings with military advisors from member states.

He added that 17 member states attended a meeting on Monday and28 attended a meeting on Saturday.

"We hope to have a more formal meeting with the troop contributors on Thursday," Dujarric said. "We do expect a more formal meeting on Thursday at which point hopefully we will get those offers."