Denmark: Not sending troops would signal weakness

The European Union would "signal weakness" if it fails to come up with a sizable contribution to the UN force in Lebanon, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned Thursday. Troop pledges have been meager so far as EU foreign ministers prepare to meet Friday in Brussels to discuss the peacekeeping mission. "It may signal weakness of the foreign and security policy of the European Union if we are not able to contribute on a larger scale to an international military force," Rasmussen said. Denmark has offered to send three navy ships to help patrol Lebanon's coastline, but is not prepared to send troops to the mission.