KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia will send 360 peacekeepers to Lebanon, 200 troops as administrative staff and the remaining as patrol team, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Wednesday.

    The 200 Malaysian troops will assist the administrative workload at the United Nations (UN) Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters in Lebanon, said Najib, who is also defense minister.

    The rest 160 people will join the quick reaction team, Najib said at a news conference here.

    All non-combatants, the 360 troops comprise staff from the army, navy and air forces, added Najib.

    Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday said in New York the UN has approved the deployment of 360 Malaysian peacekeepers in Lebanon. Malaysia had earlier planned to send 1,000 soldiers to join the UNIFIL.

    Badawi has expressed Malaysia's willingness to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to send more troops in the future upon request by the UN, said Najib.

    When asked when the Malaysian contingent will leave for Lebanon, Najib said the team is awaiting a "written" green light from the UN.

    "Preparations are at the final stages and the team based from the 4th Mechanized Brigade in Kuantan with all elements are ready at any time," Najib said. Enditem