Bush hopes for more French troops for Lebanon force

CAMP DAVID, Maryland (Reuters) – President George W. Bush
said on Friday he hopes France will send more troops to a U.N.
peacekeeping force for Lebanon after it said it would deploy
only 200 soldiers.

“France has said they’d send some troops. We hope they send
more. There’s been different signals coming out of France.
Yesterday they had a statement, today they had a statement,”
Bush told reporters at the presidential retreat of Camp David.

France already has some 200 troops attached to the U.N.
Interim Force in Lebanon and the new detachment will come from
an engineering regiment that will focus on transport and
building projects.

Bush has said the United States will help the force with
logistical support but not troops because they could become a
lightning rod.

In his remarks to reporters on Friday, he noted that the
United States has worked closely with France in the United
Nations on bringing about a cease-fire in Lebanon.

“We’re working with France, France is a friend, France is
an ally, France has got a great stake in the future of Lebanon.
President Chirac has made it very clear that he believes that
democracy in Lebanon is very important,” Bush said.