But the UN hopes 3,500 well-equipped international troops can reinforce the UN contingent within 10 to 14 days to help consolidate the fragile cease-fire and create the conditions for all Israeli forces to head home, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hedi Annabi said Tuesday.

An Israeli soldier removes garbage with a truck near the northern Israeli town of Nahariya as troops continue their withdrawal from south Lebanon August 16, 2006. [Reuters]

The Israeli army withdrew part of its force from southern Lebanon on Tuesday, and a senior UN official said it is possible to complete the Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese deployment in a week or two.

Under a UN resolution adopted Friday, a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah militants took effect on Monday, after 34 days of fighting and more than 900 deaths.

The Security Council authorized up to 15,000 UN peacekeepers to help 15,000 Lebanese troops take control of southern Lebanon as Israel withdraws its forces. The aim is to create a buffer zone free of Hezbollah fighters between the Litani River, 20 miles north of Israel, and the frontier.

Even though the artillery, guns and rockets have generally fallen silent, Hezbollah has warned that there is the potential for renewed fighting as long as Israeli forces remain in Lebanon.

Putting together a UN peacekeeping force usually takes at least three months. But UN military experts are trying to put a beefed-up force in Lebanon in just a few weeks.

The top priority at the moment is to get countries to pledge troops.

The United Nations has not yet received any formal offers of troops, though France, Italy, Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia have indicated they will make significant contributions, and a dozen other countries have expressed a willingness to help.

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