Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said Saturday that Brazilian force will remain in Haiti even after the end of its peacekeeping mission to help with post-quake reconstruction, local media reported.
According to Jobim, Brazilian troops will probably stay for at least another five years to assist the reconstruction of the Caribbean country, after its peacekeeping mission ends in 2011, Xinhua reported.
"I see no less than five years [to extend the stay of Brazilian troops] to rebuild the country," the minister said during a visit to the Training Center for Peacekeeping Operations in Rio de Janeiro.
About 1,300 Brazilian soldiers are serving in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
It is estimated that Tuesday's 7.0-magnitude earthquake has probably killed more than 100,000 people and made 3 million people homeless in Haiti.