Malaysia's foreign minister said the country would likely join a UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, and that it was just awaiting an official invitation from the United Nations.

Syed Hamid Albar said logistic issues were being sorted out before the invitation was issued from the UN for Malaysia to join the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).

"At present we have been hearing that Malaysia will be invited but no firm indication of when," he told reporters.

"I believe they do it by batches. They have to position, make sure all the logistics are completed and done, so I'm not surprised that it takes time," he added, referring to coordination of troops on the ground.

Malaysia has offered 1,000 soldiers for the expanded UN peacekeeping force, and has argued it has a role to play as a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, which it is currently chairing.

Malaysia does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, which has objected to countries taking part which do not recognise the Jewish state.

But Syed Hamid said UN Security Council members seemed positive about Malaysia's participation in the force, despite a delay in the official confirmation.

Troops on the ground

"So far we've been talking to some of the members of the Security Council. I think it sounded very positive and they think that Malaysia should be well placed to take part in this Unifil force," he said.

"Whenever they say yes, we can go."

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said in Qatar on Monday that the UN was putting together an international force for Lebanon that would include Malaysia.

"We do already have a fairly international force on the ground - which includes a battalion from India, a Chinese contingent, a battalion from Ghana," said Annan, according to a transcript released by the United Nations.

"In addition to the European forces deploying, we will be bringing in troops from Indonesia, Malaysia and possibly Nepal. So Lebanon will have a truly international force supporting it," he said.

Malaysia strongly criticised Israel during its military offensive in Lebanon, but says its troops, which have peacekeeping experience in other countries, would be impartial.