European Union foreign ministers will discuss possible troop contributions to a United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon at an emergency meeting on Friday, EU President Finland said in a statement.
It added that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan would attend the talks in Brussels earlier requested by Italy, which has offered to lead the 15,000-strong international force and has so far made the biggest commitment of up to 3,000 troops.
Rome said it saw an overall European contingent of up to 8,000 troops. But France, once seen as a major contributor, has downgraded its offer to just 200 soldiers and other nations are wary about what the mission will entail. "The meeting is to co-ordinate which member states are sending troops and how much, and to talk about the mandate," Finnish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Susanna Parkkonen said.