PARIS -- President Jacques Chirac s...

PARIS -- President Jacques Chirac says France will emit 2,000 soldiers for the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, and a European Union official said it wants the squads in place within a week.

In a nationally televised address that was closely followed completely through Europe, Chirac said Thursday that France will increase its deployment from an announced 400 squads and hopes to retain command of the force. He said the United Nations had provided guarantees France sought involving the mandate of the force.

"Two extra battalions will go on foot on to the ground to continue our numbers within UNIFIL," Chirac said. "Two thousand French soldiers are thus placed in subordination to blue helmets in Lebanon," he added.

The White House cheered Chirac's announcement. "The president welcomes the decision by dint of the French," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. "As he has said, an international force wants to be deployed urgently." President Bush is spending a extended weekend in Kennebunkport, Maine.

France, along with the United States, helped craft a UN Security Council cease-fire resolution that allowed for expansion of the UNIFIL force from the common 2,000 troops to up to 15000 France's commitment of bodys to establish a buffer cincture between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas has been closely watched in other countries.

The UN is rely uponed to hold another formal meeting Monday for countries that have asserted interest in contributing troops to Lebanon, a UN official said.

IS breathing-time IN TROUBLE?

There has been no other than one declared violation of the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. Here's a broad examine at how the shaky reprieve was holding on the 11th day:

- Declared violation: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Israel was in violation for its Aug. 19 raid upon the town of Boudai. Israel said it was trying to interdict Hezbollah weapons shipments in the raid.

- Lebanese complaints: The sway says the air and naval blockade violates the short quiet Lebanese security officials report daily Israeli overflights.

- Israeli complaints: Peacekeeping forces are not in place along the Lebanese-Syrian border to stop arms shipments to Hezbollah, making it impossible to lift the blockade.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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