Pakistan sends troops to Lebanon

Pakistan says it has agreed to send 300 military experts to Lebanon to help clear anti-personnel mines laid in the country during its 15-year civil war.

An official announcement said the contingent would be sent to Lebanon as soon as possible.

The agreement was reached during a meeting in Islamabad between the visiting Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, and the Pakistani president, General Pervez Musharraf.

The two sides also decided to increase cooperation in the fields of defence and trade.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service