Last update - 00:00 06/10/2006
Turkish frigate sets sail to join Lebanon peacekeeping force
By The Associated Press
A Turkish frigate set sail from a Mediterranean base on Friday to join an international naval force monitoring the coast of Lebanon, a Navy official said, before the expected deployment of hundreds of Turkish peacekeepers next week.
The TCG Gaziantep left the naval base of Aksaz, near the resort of Marmaris, Friday morning and was expected to reach the region on Saturday, the Navy official said.
The official did not say how many sailors were on board, but Turkish news reports said an estimated 300 sailors were to sail aboard the Gaziantep.
A Turkish engineer company of around 260 soldiers was expected to fly to Lebanon on Tuesday, making Turkey, the only Muslim member of NATO and a country with close ties to both Israel and Arab states, the first Muslim nation to deploy peacekeepers in Lebanon as part of the expanded UN operation there.
The Turkish contingent would be deployed in an area some 15 kilometers from the port of Tyre and would help reconstruct damaged bridges or roads, Turkish news reports have said. The area is about 20 kilometers north of the Lebanese-Israeli border. Military officials have not commented on the reports.
Another Muslim country, Indonesia, was also expected to deploy troops in Lebanon later. The previous UNIFIL force in southern Lebanon had a contingent of Iranians in 1978-79, but these were withdrawn after the Islamic revolution of 1979 overthrew the monarchy in Iran.
Earlier, Turkish leaders said the number of troops that would serve in the peacekeeping force in Lebanon would not exceed 1,000. It appears the number would include the sailors as well.
A Bulgarian warship was also due to join the international peacekeeping mission. Bulgaria's parliament on Friday approved a government decision to send the frigate Drazki with up to 160 crew for two months beginning October 15.
It will monitor shipping in Lebanese territorial waters to prevent the illegal import of fighting equipment into Lebanon by sea.
Last month, Turkey's parliament approved sending soldiers to help monitor the shaky cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas based in southern Lebanon, despite widespread public opposition and street protests.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has assured the skeptical public that Turkish soldiers will be withdrawn immediately if asked to disarm Hezbollah fighters.
Turks, most of whom are Muslims, are wary of being drawn into fighting with fellow Muslims to protect Israel, whose 34-day bombardment of Lebanon was extraordinarily unpopular here as in much of the Islamic world.
However, Erdogan's government sees participating in the Lebanon peacekeeping force as a chance to raise Turkey's international profile as it strives to join the European Union and reassert Turkish influence in the region.