Finland to withdraw its forces working within UNIFIL in South Lebanon

Finland on Friday announced it will withdraw its forces working within the course of the UN peace keeping forces in South Lebanon by the end of this year, in the framework of an international plan to reduce number of these forces.

News reports quoted the Finnish foreign ministry as saying in a statement that the withdrawal of the Finnish forces is part of the plan of the UN to reduce number of UNIFIL troopers in south Lebanon to 2000 instead of 5700, adding that after the retreat of these forces, Finland would have only 950 soldiers working in nine UN peace keeping missions.