Malaysia's defence chief said today his country would send 1,000 soldiers to Lebanon as soon as a ceasefire was declared.

Defence Forces Chief Admiral Mohamad Anwar Mohamad Nor said the troops were waiting for a greenlight from the government, which has already said Malaysia was willing to commit soldiers to a UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

"We will send our troops according to the country's requirements. Currently, we are finalising preparations for the departure," Mohamad Anwar was quoted as saying by Bernama .

"We will send armoured vehicles and troops in highly bullet-proof attire to face any consequences," he said.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday the government had agreed to send a fully-equipped battalion, which would help maintain peace but not be directly involved in the conflict, Bernama said.

"Malaysia's offer still stands but there is no ceasefire announced as of now," a spokesman from the prime minister's office said, adding: "Malaysia is ready to contribute a battalion once a ceasefire is enforced."

Plan strategies well

Mohamad Anwar said Malaysia would soon send observers to Lebanon to gather information about the situation but was confident the soldiers were prepared for any eventuality.

"It is vital for us to plan our strategies well," Mohamad Anwar said.

"The potential dangers will not deter us from doing our job. I am sure our experiences in peacekeeping missions will help us deliver the best," he said.

Malaysia in May sent a contingent to East Timor to help restore order to the country and has also taken part in a number of UN-backed intervention forces.

"We are likely to face the toughest challenge compared to our experiences in previous peacekeeping missions in Bosnia-Hezegovina, Somalia and recently in Timor Leste," said Mohamad Anwar.

The United States and France, both members of the UN Security Council, said Thursday they expected a UN resolution leading to a ceasefire to be reached soon.