Special report: Israel-Lebanon conflicts

    KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia will send 1,000 soldiers for peacekeeping in Lebanon as soon as a ceasefire is declared there, a senior military official said Friday.

    The armed forces are currently finalizing preparations for the departure while waiting green light from the Malaysian government, Chief of Defense Forces Admiral Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor told reporters here.

    He said, the forces will send armored vehicles and troops in highly bullet-proof attire to face any consequences.

    "We are likely to face the toughest challenge compared to our experiences in previous peacekeeping missions in Bosnia-Hezergovina, Somalia and recently in Timor Leste," Anwar was quoted by the Bernama news agency as saying.

    Meanwhile, an observer group will soon leave for the strife-torn Lebanon to gather latest information on the current situation there, Anwar said, adding "it is vital for us to plan our strategies well."

    Earlier Thursday at an emergency meeting on Middle East attended by countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urged OIC countries to show "preparedness to contribute forces for peacekeeping operations under the United Nations banner."

    "Malaysia is ready to do that. We must request a role for the OIC to play in building the peace after the ceasefire is in place (in Lebanon)," Badawi said in his opening speech. Enditem