France commits only 400 troops to UN force

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=6df1abde2fe1a2cb

President Jacques Chirac announced Thursday that France will immediately double to 400 men its contingent in the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, disappointing some UN officials who had hoped for a far larger contribution.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora assured countries contributing to the mission that Hezbollah was committed to cooperating with the UN force.

Chirac made the offer to double France's current contingent in Lebanon to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during a telephone conversation Thursday afternoon, the president's office said.

The French president left open the possibility that France might eventually provide more soldiers and said some 1,700 French troops positioned near Lebanon would be made available to the United Nations but would not be placed under UN control. Many diplomats had expected France to provide at least 2,000 men.
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This is a joke!!!

[madrchsod]

1. he doesn`t trust either side

france has an on going problem with their islamic community remember the riots were not that long ago....

[Mr_Spock]

2. This is idiotic

French diplomat interviewed on NPR defended their hesitance in this area, then at the and stated that this was ridiculous and that they would have to send more troops. The interview was taped when France was only committing 200 troops - now it's 400 - still a joke.

[David__77]

3. There should be no French troops.

The ex-colonial power has no business there. Lebanon for the Lebanese.

[Solo_in_MD]

4. Nobody else will support this

and IIRC France currently leads UNIFIL