ROME, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Italy's opposition party has endorsed leading a U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon but wants a clearer definition of rules of engagement.
Gianfranco Rotondi, leader of the centrist Christian Democratic party, said "leading the mission would be an honor but also a demanding and difficult task," Italy's ANSA news agency reported Tuesday.
Parliamentary debate came about after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert telephoned Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi Sunday night with the request.
A U.N. cease-fire went into effect Aug. 14, which ended 34 days of fighting between Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon and Israeli forces. Olmert wants about 15,000 blue-helmeted peacekeepers in the region.
So far, France has declined to lead the mission, citing concerns the cease-fire does not directly address disarming Hezbollah.
In Rome, Prodi said Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora had assured him during phone conversations that Hezbollah will cooperate with the U.N. force.
