Norway to Send Naval Vessels to Middle East

Source: Xinhua

The Norwegian government has decided to offer to send four Norwegian missile torpedo boats with crews totaling 100 men to the new UN force in Lebanon, according to reports reaching here from Oslo on Sunday.

The MTBs will be used in patrolling Lebanese waters to prevent smuggling of weapons, Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported.

Defense Minister Anne-Grethe Stroem-Erichsen has said that Norway will await clarification of the UN mandate, to see if it can be accepted by Norway, before giving the final go-ahead for the plans and putting the issue before Parliament (Stortinget).

The Defense Minister said the UN mandate must give the Norwegian MTBs and their crew the opportunity to defend themselves with arms, if attacked.

The United Nations has said the force would be given robust rules of engagement, which will allow the use of force.

In Parliament, opposition parties the Conservatives and the Liberal Left have voiced support for the coalition government's plans.

Progress Party leader Siv Jensen has criticized the government for making the offer to send the MTBs without first consulting the Stortinget, according to NRK.

Editor: Jessie Hwang