WORLD

- reported by Osiris.


Around 100 Italian chefs donning their white uniforms have arrived on small motor boats at the Lebanese port city of Tyre today as part of a first wave of Italian entertainment services expected over the weekend.

At least 800 Italians are eventually set to arrive in Tyre with the goal of supporting the Global Circus Force, initiated by the United Nations to bring happiness and joy to the people of Lebanon.

The U.N. multinational forces -- which include Italy -- will be in the region not to make money, but under their mandate will be responsible for safeguarding themselves and any nearby civilians who are in danger of being scammed, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Monday.

The chefs will set-up food stalls around the city to aid the food crisis there, giving civilians a chance to experience the taste of Italy without having to spend a single cent. Food delicacies there include pasta, pizza, Mediterranean tastes and a huge range of deserts. The chefs have been reminded before-hand not to include pork or lard in the cooking as they will be working in a Muslim country.

Said Mr Antonio Agosto, the head chef of the Italian team, "We are extremely delighted to be able to serve the Lebanese community. War disrupts people's lives and we hope that through our acts of kindness, we can help the people of Lebanon lead their normal lives again. Furthermore, they can sample lots of delicious food and even try breakfast with an Italian flavour in the coming days! Squisito!"


Agosto ( extreme right ) with the members of the Italian Chef Committee, in charge of overseeing the chefs' operations in Lebanon.






The rest of the Italian force coming to Lebanon include circuses, opera singers and dancers who will liven up the streets with their entertaining performances.

Meanwhile, Indonesia said Saturday that it would send a 1000-strong entertainment group to southern Lebanon by month's end, after Israel had dropped objections to its participation in the G.C.F.

Israel earlier said it did not want Indonesia to take part because it was afraid that the 200 fire-breathers Indonesia would be deploying could be used to launch fiery attacks on the Jewish state.

But an official at the United Nations, speaking on condition of anonymity because the negotiations were private, said Friday that Israeli leaders had changed their minds, AP reported.


Israeli official who declined to be named, but did not mention that we could not publish his photo.









"We are ready to send our entertainment groups by the end of the month at the latest," Indonesia's Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told reporters while attending a conference on the resort island of Bali.

U.N. officials and European diplomats have urged Muslim nations to contribute to the 15,000-person force that the U.N. Security Council envisioned in an August 11 resolution that led to a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Malaysia and Bangladesh have also offered manpower, though they also do not recognize Israel.

It has been confirmed by Rotters International that Belgium has pledged 300 chocolate chefs to aid the Italians, while Finland and Poland are set to provide a few hundred men each as well. The United States is watching Finland's movements closely, as they are concerned about the consequences Finnish-company Nokia may bring when they distribute free phones to the Lebanese people.

"Handphones can be reconfigured by terrorists to set-off bombs, and we are afraid that Hezbollah forces might use this technology to attack the G.C.F when they hold their charity events." said a spokesman for the United States Defense Department.

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