Malaysia has delayed the scheduled deployment of hundreds of troops to join a United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon because of logistics issues, defence officials said today.

Malaysia earlier this month sent 100 troops to join the five already at United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters in Naqoura, and was due Monday to send an additional 260 soldiers, before the delay.

"They were supposed to leave today, but their departure has been postponed to Jan 22 due to some logistics coordination," a military official told AFP .

The official had no further details on the delay.

The UN in October last year approved the deployment of Malaysian peacekeepers to UNIFIL, which was expanded after a devastating conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militant movement Hezbollah in July and August.

However Malaysia, which chairs the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and had strongly criticised Israel's offensive in Lebanon, only received the go-ahead to send less than 400 troops, after offering 1,000.

Israel initially objected to countries which do not recognise the Jewish state from taking part in the peacekeeping force.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has said Malaysia was ready to send more personnel, possibly a mechanised battalion, if the UNIFIL mandate was extended.