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Turkey approves Lebanon troops | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Turkey's parliament has approved the deployment of its troops in Lebanon to join to the UN peacekeeping mission. | |
Lawmakers were recalled from the summer recess for the emergency vote, despite widespread opposition. | |
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital Ankara, calling on the politicians not to send troops to fight against fellow Muslims. | Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital Ankara, calling on the politicians not to send troops to fight against fellow Muslims. |
Several were detained. UN chief Kofi Annan arrived in Ankara as the parliament began debating the motion. | |
This is Mr Annan's last stop in a regional tour to raise support. | This is Mr Annan's last stop in a regional tour to raise support. |
From Egypt, he suggested Israel might shortly lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon. | From Egypt, he suggested Israel might shortly lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon. |
"I don't want to raise any false hopes, but I hope that in the next 48 hours we will have some... constructive, positive news," he said after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. | "I don't want to raise any false hopes, but I hope that in the next 48 hours we will have some... constructive, positive news," he said after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. |
Israel has maintained an air and sea embargo since the 14 August ceasefire ended its 34-day conflict with Hezbollah fighters. | Israel has maintained an air and sea embargo since the 14 August ceasefire ended its 34-day conflict with Hezbollah fighters. |
Domestic opposition | Domestic opposition |
Turkish troops would join a UN force tasked with keeping the peace between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon. | Turkish troops would join a UN force tasked with keeping the peace between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon. |
The government believes involvement in the Lebanon mission would bolster its role within the Middle East and advance its ambition to join the European Union. | The government believes involvement in the Lebanon mission would bolster its role within the Middle East and advance its ambition to join the European Union. |
The country's foreign minister said on Monday that the number of troops to be deployed would not exceed 1,000. | The country's foreign minister said on Monday that the number of troops to be deployed would not exceed 1,000. |
But the move to send Turkish soldiers faces broad domestic opposition, with many unwilling to engage in a situation in which they could be fighting against fellow Muslims. | But the move to send Turkish soldiers faces broad domestic opposition, with many unwilling to engage in a situation in which they could be fighting against fellow Muslims. |
In a bid to quell fears, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured the public that the soldiers would withdraw if they were asked to disarm Hezbollah. | In a bid to quell fears, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured the public that the soldiers would withdraw if they were asked to disarm Hezbollah. |
On Monday, Qatar became the first Arab state to commit troops to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, offering 200 to 300 military personnel. | On Monday, Qatar became the first Arab state to commit troops to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, offering 200 to 300 military personnel. |
The UN is installing 15,000 peacekeepers in southern Lebanon as part of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. | The UN is installing 15,000 peacekeepers in southern Lebanon as part of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. |