U.N. peacekeepers relish calm in Lebanon

[tocqueville]

By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer
21 minutes ago

NAQOURA, Lebanon - The Italian soldier newly assigned to patrol south Lebanon was confident he was welcome in one of the world's tensest regions.

"I think they love us here," he told Arab television recently. "After all, we are world champions in soccer."

But peacekeepers deployed from 10 nations will need more than athletic skills and high spirits to achieve success in south Lebanon, where support is strong for Hezbollah guerrillas who fought Israel in a devastating war last summer.

For now, an almost carefree attitude prevails. In the coastal village of Naqoura, French soldiers casually shop outside the U.N. force's main base without combat helmets or body armor. At a hotel 30 miles northeast, their Spanish comrades walk into the bar, offer an Arabic greeting and order sodas.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061017/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_calm_for_now