By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A column of French UN peacekeepers and military vehicles including four tanks left Monday to take up position in southern Lebanon on the border zone with Israel.
The 30-strong detachment departed from a rear base near the town of Deir Kifa to a zone currently controlled by Ghanaian peacekeepers around Bint Jbeil, which lies just a few kilometers (miles) from the border with Israel.
"We are gradually deploying in Bent Jbeil where we will take over responsibility for the area from the Ghanaians" from Wednesday, said French military spokesman Col. Jerome Salle.
In all, about 300-400 French troops will be based in the zone, he said.