Tyre, Sept 3 (ZEENEWS.COM) Italian soldiers on Saturday began pouring into Lebanon, part of the first large contingent of international troops dispatched to boost the UN force keeping the peace between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.

Around 150 Italian marines wearing blue berets arrived aboard a wave of gray un helicopters in the Mediterranean port city of Tyre to secure two beaches where the remainder of an 880-strong battalion of soldiers will land over the weekend.

High waves delayed deployment, though and some vehicles and equipment were diverted further south to Naqoura. Another 200 Italian troops are expected tomorrow in capital Beirut.

The commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon known as UNIFIL, French Gen Alain Pellegrini, said the expanded peacekeeping mission marked a break from the past.

"We have to forget the previous UNIFIL. The previous UNIFIL is dead and the new one is very different," Pellegrini told reporters. "It is strengthened with stronger rules of engagement. We will have more people, more equipment. We have the possibility to use force to implement our mission."

International troops have been slow to arrive in Lebanon since an August 14 cease-fire brought an end to 34 days of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, in part because it took time to hammer out details over the troops' mandate.

Besides the Italian contingent, just 250 extra French soldiers have made it to the country, though France has said it will send a total of 2,000 troops. The Italians' arrival will bring the number of UN forces to around 3,250.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda yesterday announced his country will send up to 1,000 soldiers to Southern Lebanon by the month's end.