PARIS—France is ready to send an extra 1,600 troops to bolster a revamped United Nations force in Lebanon, President Jacques Chirac said on Thursday, a move which could help convince other countries to contribute to the force.
Chirac's announcement will bring the total French contingent to 2,000 and help answer criticism of his initial caution over the mission.
France had initially offered only to double its force in Lebanon to 400, disappointing many U.N. diplomats who had expected Paris to provide the backbone of the mission tasked with safeguarding a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
But France agreed to increase its troop deployment after winning assurances from the United Nations over the command structure and rules of engagement that will let the troops defend themselves effectively.
"We have received the necessary clarifications from the United Nations," Chirac said.
"Two thousand French troops will thus be placed under the United Nations in Lebanon. France is ready, if the United Nations wishes, to continue commanding this force," he added.
The United States applauded Chirac's announcement.
"The president welcomes the decision by the French, as he has said an international force needs to be deployed urgently," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Fragile
Following France's initial, low key offer, Italy had stepped up to the plate, promising up to 3,000 troops and offering to take command of the delicate operation.
The United Nations has some 2,000 soldiers in Lebanon and wants to raise the number to up to 15,000 following an end to fighting this month between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.
Chirac said the ceasefire remained "fragile" and called on other countries to provide peacekeepers, including the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, who have so far offered up no soldiers.
"This force must be put in place but it must be based on a fair division of the troops," he added.
France had led the calls for a robust international force to police the Lebanese ceasefire and was heavily criticised for its initial, hesitant approach.
But French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie dismissed these attacks on Thursday, saying the military had needed firm reassurances after being hindered by restrictive U.N. terms of engagement in previous peacekeeping missions.
Alliot-Marie said some of the criticism of France had come from countries that had no intention of sending men to Lebanon, a clear reference to the United States, or else from countries without the military strength to deploy troops abroad.
"It's very easy for these countries to say France hasn't done enough. They have to learn how to look at themselves in the mirror," she said in an interview due to be published in Le Figaro newspaper on Friday.
"France has the means to act like a great power," she added.
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