Special report: Israel-Lebanon conflicts [Gallery] [Videos]    

    HELSINKI, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The 250 Finnish troops which is to join the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, will help clear mines and set up bases. Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said on Monday.

    "Cease-fire violations are likely to be the biggest risk of this operation. Also, numerous unexploded mines and bombs in the area pose a direct threat," he told the YLE radio.

    The government's plan includes a small intelligence group to be initially deployed late in October, with the remainder of the Finnish contingent to be sent a month later.

    This year's mission will cost Finland some 16.5 million euros (21.1 million U.S. dollars), with 26.9 million euros (34.4 million U.S. dollars) projected for 2007.

    The United Nations is supposed to refund Finland some 6.7 million euros (8.6 million U.S. dollars) later, according to the government.

    To be formally finalized, the mission needs the approval of Finnish parliament on Thursday and President Tarja Halonen on Friday.

    Finland announced its intended contribution to the expanded UN force in Lebanon on Aug. 18, four days after the UN-brokered cease-fire was adopted between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. Enditem