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Turkey in vote on Lebanon troops	Turkey in vote on Lebanon troops
2006-09-05 13:52:16 UTC	2006-09-05 17:22:48 UTC (about 4 hours later)
Turkey's parliament is due to take a controversial decision on whether to send a force to join the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.	Turkey's parliament is due to take a controversial decision on whether to send a force to join the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
Lawmakers have been recalled from the summer recess for the emergency vote, despite widespread opposition.	Lawmakers have been recalled from the summer recess for the emergency vote, despite widespread opposition.
UN chief Kofi Annan is due to arrive in Ankara later on Tuesday, the last stop in a regional tour to raise support.	Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital Ankara, calling on the politicians not to send troops to fight against fellow Muslims.
From Egypt, Mr Annan suggested Israel might shortly lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon.	Several demonstrators have been detained.
	UN chief Kofi Annan arrived in Ankara as the parliament was debating the motion to send troops to Lebanon.
	This is Mr Annan's last stop in a regional tour to raise support.
	From Egypt, he suggested Israel might shortly lift its air and sea blockade of Lebanon.
"I don't want to raise any false hopes, but I hope that in the next 48 hours we will have some... constructive, positive news," he said after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.	"I don't want to raise any false hopes, but I hope that in the next 48 hours we will have some... constructive, positive news," he said after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Israel has maintained an air and sea embargo since the 14 August ceasefire ended its 34-day conflict with Hezbollah fighters.	Israel has maintained an air and sea embargo since the 14 August ceasefire ended its 34-day conflict with Hezbollah fighters.
Domestic opposition	Domestic opposition
Turkish troops would join a UN force tasked with keeping the peace between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon.	Turkish troops would join a UN force tasked with keeping the peace between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon.
The government believes involvement in the Lebanon mission would bolster its role within the Middle East and advance its ambition to join the European Union.	The government believes involvement in the Lebanon mission would bolster its role within the Middle East and advance its ambition to join the European Union.
The country's foreign minister said on Monday that the number of troops to be deployed would not exceed 1,000.	The country's foreign minister said on Monday that the number of troops to be deployed would not exceed 1,000.
But the move to send Turkish soldiers faces broad domestic opposition, with many unwilling to engage in a situation in which they could be fighting against fellow Muslims.	But the move to send Turkish soldiers faces broad domestic opposition, with many unwilling to engage in a situation in which they could be fighting against fellow Muslims.
A small number of protesters have gathered outside the parliament building in the capital ahead of the vote.
In a bid to quell fears, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured the public that the soldiers would withdraw if they were asked to disarm Hezbollah.	In a bid to quell fears, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured the public that the soldiers would withdraw if they were asked to disarm Hezbollah.
On Monday, Qatar became the first Arab state to commit troops to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, offering 200 to 300 military personnel.	On Monday, Qatar became the first Arab state to commit troops to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, offering 200 to 300 military personnel.
The UN is installing 15,000 peacekeepers in southern Lebanon as part of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.	The UN is installing 15,000 peacekeepers in southern Lebanon as part of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.