Ankara, SEPT 6, SPA -- United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan onWednesday welcomed a Turkish Parliament decision to authorize thedeployment of Turkish troops to Lebanon as a part of a UNpeacekeeping force, REPORTED DPA. Speaking in Ankara at a joint press conference with Turkish PrimeMinister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Annan said the decision of Turkey andother countries to send peacekeepers was a sign of internationalsolidarity. The Turkish Parliament on Tuesday night voted by 340 to 192 infavour of a government-sponsored motion to send troops to Lebanon. The Turkish force is expected to be involved in distributinghumanitarian aid, training Lebanon's army and is expected to involvea naval element to patrol Lebanese waters to prevent arms smuggling. Erdogan on Wednesday said details such as the exact numbers ofTurkish troops that are to be sent to Lebanon, where they will bedeployed and what their exact role will be, would all be decided inmeetings between Turkish and UN officials in the coming days. Both Erdogan and Annan stressed that the UN peacekeepers would notbe involved in disarming Hezbollah fighters.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/387523