HELSINKI, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Finnish President Tarja Halonen has given her formal approval on Friday to the government's plan to send a sapper company of 250 soldiers to the UN expanded peacekeeping operation in Lebanon.

    Late Thursday, lawmakers approved the government motion 122-7, with one lawmaker abstaining and 70 absent.

    The soldiers will mainly clear mines and set up bases, officials said. A small intelligence unit will be deployed in early October and the full force a month later.

    Finland will incur a cost of about 16.5 million euros from the operation this year. And the costs next year are expected to reach 26.9 million euros. Enditem