Spain Approves Troop Deployment To Lebanon
Joseph S. Mayton - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Beirut, Lebanon (AHN) - Spanish parliament approved sending soldiers to Lebanon on Thursday evening. The vote, 304-2, agreed to send up to 1,100 troops to Lebanon to bolster the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon. Despite the opposition's criticism of the decision, it gave its approval for the deployment. They said the government was sending troops to another dangerous region. This comes after withdrawing Spanish troops from Iraq in 2004. The government defended its decision, saying that it was a necessary step to take as a member of the European community. Spain will commit the third largest contingent to Lebanon following France and Italy. It is expected that Madrid will eventually take over command of the multinational force in Lebanon that will include troops from Belgium, Ireland, Finland, Poland and Portugal. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was in Spain for the vote. He has praised the decision. The revamped UN force in Lebanon is expected to reach 15,000 troops strong.
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