Qatar will be sending 200-300 troops for keeping the peace in Lebanon, becoming the first Arab country to participate in an expanded UN force.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani, the Qatari foreign minister, said in Doha that the troop pledge was intended to "tell the world that there is an Arab presence, however small, and to say to Israel that we believe in this resolution and that we want to implement it."

He was speaking at a news conference with Kofi Annan, the UN secretary general, who is on a Middle East tour to push for implementation of Resolution 1701 that went into force on August 14 after 34 days of fighting between Israel and Shia group Hezbollah.

Italian troops will make up the largest single contingent of the UN force known as UNIFIL II.

Annan hoped UNIFIL II would be a "manifestation of international solidarity" with Lebanon. He also urged Israel to lift its siege of the country, saying it was unsustainable.

Israel has kept an air and sea embargo on Lebanon even after the war ended. It says the blockade was to prevent Hizbollah from rearming.

All ships and aircraft require Israeli permission to use Lebanese waters and airspace. On Sunday, Qatar Airways said it would resume direct flights to and from Beirut.

Photo Caption

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar (L) and Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the e UN