Indonesia delays deployment of peacekeeping troops to Lebanon

The Associated Press
Published: October 9, 2006

JAKARTA, Indonesia Indonesia will delay its deployment of peacekeeping troops to Lebanon by one week for logistical reasons, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

 

In a related development, the country signed a euro 17.2 million (US$21.6 million) deal to buy 32 armored vehicles from French company Renault SA for use in Lebanon, said military Maj. Gen. Syafrie Syamsudin.

 

The decision to buy the vehicles angered some lawmakers at a time of rising poverty and unemployment and with crucial infrastructure projects stalled due to lack of funding.

 

The delay to the dispatch of Indonesia's 850-strong force is the second since Indonesia's confirmation in the mission was confirmed.

 

An advance team of 150 soldiers will now leave on Oct. 17, with the main body of the force leaving in the first week of November, said Rear Admiral Sunarto Syukronoputra.

 

Syukronoputra cited logistical reasons in Lebanon as the reason for the delay.

 

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation and was quick to offer troops to the mission to enforce a cease-fire in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah from July 12 to Aug. 14.