(Reuters) - Italy is ready to lead a U.N. force in southern Lebanon if its European partners commit themselves to the operation, which the Italian opposition warned on Monday could prove to be a "kamikaze" mission.
Prime Minister Romano Prodi, asked by Israel's Ehud Olmert on Sunday to lead the new multinational force of up to 15,000 troops, sought French, German and Turkish assurances this weekend that Italy would not head into Lebanon alone, reports Trend.
"I understand we all have our problems, but we must go forward in unity," he was quoted as saying by Corriere della Sera newspaper in telephone calls to muster support.
But the centre-right opposition, mindful of public sensitivity to military casualties which forced Prodi's predecessor Silvio Berlusconi to scale back Italy's presence in Iraq, said Rome's enthusiasm was unmatched by its neighbors.
"Chirac will send a few generals, Germany a launch or two, while we have to send troops dressed as kamikazes in the Italian flag," said Francesco Storace of the rightist National Alliance.
The Italian government has approved sending up to 3,000 troops, making it the biggest contributor so far to the peacekeeping force that will try to uphold the current truce.
In contrast, France has scaled down its commitment to 200 troops for now, due to worries about the chain of command.
Turkey may be a major contributor but like Italy, Spain and others it awaits clear rules of engagement by the United Nations.
GOOD RELATIONS
Italy's so far unmatched commitment stems from its proximity to the Middle East and Prodi's wish to reverse the isolation in Europe that Rome suffered as a result of the pro-U.S. stance of Berlusconi.
"Italy can resume the role it used to have, like in the Suez crisis," Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Bobo Craxi told La Repubblica daily, referring to Italian mediation in the 1950s.
Italy hosted Lebanon crisis talks in July but the meeting was criticized for not agreeing to call for an immediate ceasefire.
Prodi's office said calls with Olmert and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora on Sunday elicited praise for Italy "with its excellent relations with all countries in the area, being ready for a role of primary importance in the UNIFIL mission."
Prodi has not yet spoken of an Italian command, but Defense Minister Arturo Parisi has said this could happen "eventually."
One general with peacekeeping experience said Italy's good relations in the Middle East made it diplomatically suitable.
"I believe an Italian command would meet with approval among the Arabs and Israelis," Carlo Cabigiosu, a retired general who led a multinational force in Kosovo, told La Repubblica.
"And we have a good card to play with Hizbollah: our good relations with Iran," he said, referring to Iran's patronage of the Lebanese-based guerrillas whose month-long war with Israel devastated southern Lebanon.
Prodi also runs the risk of opposition to the Lebanon force emerging inside his own coalition, which includes communists who recently tried to block Prodi from keeping Italian soldiers on a NATO-led peace and reconstruction mission in Afghanistan.
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