The government today offered to deploy peacekeepers in Sudan's troubled Darfur region under the United Nations banner.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said Kuala Lumpur's UN envoy had been ordered to convey the message to the world body that it was prepared to participate in the mission.

The UN Security Council recently agreed to deploy 26,000 peacekeepers to Darfur to take over from an African contingent of 7,000 men.

"After we know that the UN has accepted our troops, the government will make a formal decision," he said.

Malaysia has a long tradition of undertaking peacekeeping missions. It had deployed troops to Somalia, Bosnia, Cambodia and most recently in East Timor.

Najib said Malaysia would wait for the UN's acceptance before making a final decision.

Petronas interest in Sudan

A Darfur peace deal was agreed with the Sudanese government in Abuja in May 2006 but it was only endorsed by one of three negotiating rebel groups.

Tribal violence has since spiralled, claiming at least 140 lives, and splinter factions have flourished.

On Monday Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Kuala Lumpur was prepared to consider participating in the UN's Darfur peacekeeping force.

Abdullah conveyed his position to visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir during a meeting on the sidelines of a poverty conference in the northern resort island of Langkawi.

Malaysia's oil giant Petronas is engaged in Sudan's oil industry.