Cyprus-Forum.com

[PaulUK]

Turkey To Join UN Force
Updated: 19:57, Tuesday September 05, 2006

Turkey's parliament has approved sending soldiers to join the expanded UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

The vote in parliament was 340-192 in favour of the deployment.

There is opposition to the deployment among many in Muslims in Turkey who fear the force will mainly serve Israeli and US interests and that soldiers may have to fire at fellow Muslims.

The number of troops was not specified. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has said it is unikely to exceed 1,000.

The decision was timed to coincide with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's arrival in Ankara for talks on Wednesday with Turkish leaders.

The vote also is expected to please Europe, the US and Israel, which are keen to see peacekeepers from Turkey in the UN force in the hopes that strong Muslim participation will avert any impression that the force is primarily Christian.