The Indonesian government said Tuesday it is ready to send a battalion of peacekeeping troops to Lebanon if asked by the United Nations.

Defense Minister Jowono Sudarsono told reporters here the sending of troops must be at the UN request.

"The troops will only move (to Lebanon) under a UN mandate," he stressed.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Military spokesman Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki said the military has been preparing stand by troops following an order from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dated July 20.

"We are preparing a battalion of troops, including three companies from the Army Strategic Command and a company from the Marine. Total number of personnel is 594," he was quoted by the Detikcom news website as saying.

Source: Xinhua