Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Thursday that Indonesia
will expectedly send its troops in the next one to two weeks to join the UN
peacekeeping forces which have been deployed in Lebanon.
"We are preparing for the deployment of troops and their dispatch can be
hopefully realized in the next one to two weeks to Lebanon," the minister said
on the sideline of the 61st anniversary of the country's Independence Day at the
state palace here on Thursday.
The minister said Indonesian troops and other 10,000 troops from other
countries will join the existing 5,000 peacekeeping forces already stationed in
Lebanon.
He said, however, the assurance on the sending of the troops still had to
wait for the results of the UN Peacekeeping Forces Operation Department's
meeting scheduled to be held on Thursday.
Indonesia earlier prepared to send 850 personnel to Lebanon. Based on the
request of Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, the number has been added to
1,000 troops.
According to reports, Israeli troops pulled back from parts of south Lebanon
Wednesday evening, handing over its control to the existing UN peacekeeping
force.
