Indonesian troops told to bring books to Lebanon

Rather than combatting the enemy, Indonesian peace-keeping troops may have to fight off boredom, hence the books.

Indonesian soldiers hope fighting boredom will be the biggest danger they face on the UN peace-keeping mission in Lebanon and have been told to pack books along with their weapons.

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"Besides broadening their vision, it is also useful to fight boredom during assignments far away from home," infantry spokesman Major M. Irawadi told the detikcom news portal.

Jakarta will send up to 1,000 troops to Lebanon to join the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

Officials have said that the contingent was expected to be on the ground within a month.

The soldiers were Saturday briefed by senior generals about their tasks and the dangers they may encounter while on duty.