The National Assembly of Bulgaria on Friday, approved a decision to send a warship with a crew of around 160 to Lebanon to help patrol its coast, said reports by the BTA.

The decision, adopted by the government one week ago, was passed by a 117-7 vote, with one obstention, in the parliament.

The Druzki frigate is to be deployed in Lebanon from Oct. 15 to Dec. 15, to help the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol its coast and prevent weapon smuggling.

The warship, compatible with NATO standards, was purchased from Belgium in Oct. 2005, as part of preliminary steps to modernize the Bulgarian army.

The 34-day-long conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah group ended on Aug. 14 under the UN Resolution 1701.

The resolution called for a ceasefire and Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon. It also authorized an expansion of the UN forces in Lebanon to 15,000, to help the Lebanese government take control of its southern territories.

Source: Xinhua