Malaysia's prime minister Sunday welcomed the U.N. Security Council resolution on Lebanon and hoped it will lead to lasting peace in the war-battered nation. Malaysia, which chairs the 56-member Organization of the Islamic Conference, has strongly condemned Israel's military offensive in Lebanon. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the resolution passed on Friday did not fully meet the Lebanese government's demands but should be implemented immediately to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon, the national news agency Bernama reported. «The resolution must be carried out immediately and any delay will cause Israel to do as it pleases and continue with its attacks in Lebanon,» he was quoted as saying. The resolution calls for an end to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah and authorizes the deployment of 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to help Lebanese troops take control of south Lebanon as Israel withdraws. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said Sunday the cease-fire will take effect early Monday morning. Abdullah said Malaysia is ready to take part in the U.N. peacekeeping mission and is waiting for the green light from the U.N., Bernama reported. On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Malaysia is preparing a force of about 1,000 soldiers.
