Annan to press EU nations over Lebanon peacekeeping force

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was today trying to persuade European nations to contribute troops to the United Nation’s expanded peacekeeping force for Lebanon, building on the momentum created by France’s promise to provide 2,000 more soldiers.

Most of the European Union’s 25 member nations have been reluctant to take part in an expanded UN force, known as UNIFIL, because of uncertainty about the force of the mandate.