BEIRUT, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said here Tuesday the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was working to help the Lebanese army shoulder its responsibilities.

    The presence of the enhanced UNIFIL forces in Lebanon was aimed at implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, she told reporters after meeting Lebanese Christian Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir.

    France, which currently leads UNIFIL, is expected to boost its contribution to the UN force to 2,000 troops. The entire UNIFIL force is expected to increase to 15,000 soldiers.

    Alliot-Marie, who met on Monday with UNIFIL commander, French General Alain Pellegrini, held talks on Tuesday with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

    She told a press conference on Tuesday that Beirut will try to resolve by the weekend logistical problems that have delayed the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon's war-torn south.

    "I spoke about this problem this morning with (Defense Minister)Elias Murr, who told me that by Friday, in theory, the problem should be resolved after a meeting of the cabinet," she said.

    Pellegrini complained last week about a lack of cooperation from the Lebanese authorities in helping UNIFIL find residences for thousands of peacekeepers heading to the south.

    The problem has forced UNIFIL to push back the deployment of 1,000 Indonesian soldiers until the end of October. Enditem