According to the statement released by the French Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, Douste-Blazy would also discuss the reopening of Lebanese seaports and airports, and humanitarian aid distribution.

The minister said on French national television France 2 that time was "pressing", adding that his country was ready to contribute to a reinforced UNIFIL.

"There are 1,700 French soldiers who are today already in the navy near Beirut and 200 French soldiers in Unifil," he said, adding that the final decision was to be made by Chirac.

The United Nations Security Council voted on Friday unanimously in favor of resolution 1701, which gave the mandate for a UNIFIL force of 15,000 international troops.

The resolution also called for Israel and Lebanon to support a solution based on previous U.N. resolutions requiring "the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon" apart from state security forces.

French President Jacques Chirac announced on Saturday that France would participate in UNIFIL. But he added that the decision on France's contribution would be taken after it became clear what resources the force would get and how many other countries would be willing to participate.

A French military planning officer was due to arrive at the U.N. peacekeeping operations department in New York on Monday. In addition, five military engineers were expected in Lebanon to assess road transport reconstruction needs.

France would send up to 4,000 soldiers to UNIFIL and command the U.N. force, French officials said.

The Spanish government announced on Monday that it planned to send 700 soldiers.

Italy has agreed to send between 2,000 and 3,000 soldiers, according to local media.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said the country would send 1,000 soldiers.