SIDON: President Michel Sleiman vowed during a surprise visit to south Lebanon Thursday that he would provide greater protection for U.N. peacekeepers, two weeks after five French troops were wounded in a bomb attack.

Sleiman, who was flown by helicopter to the headquarters of the UNIFIL Force Commander Reserve at Deir Kifa near the southern coastal city of Tyre, said that Lebanese authorities were continuing their investigation into the Dec. 9 roadside bomb attack on a patrol belonging to the French contingent of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The attack against the French patrol in Burj al-Shemali near Tyre left five soldiers wounded.

Sleiman met the five wounded French peacekeepers and checked on their wellbeing.

Sleiman,Ghosn and Kahwaji were welcomed at the UNIFIL French base by Col. Cedric du Gardin in the presence of UNIFIL Chief of Staff Brig.Gen. Olivier Pougin de la Maisonneuve and French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton.

Sleiman was presented with a UNIFIL Honor Guard from the French contingent, which is currently more than 1,300-strong.

“The visit brings a message of support and solidarity for UNIFIL and the mission we are carrying out,” Brig. Gen. Bonfanti said. “This recognition, and the widespread support we received from across the Lebanese political spectrum after the attack on our peacekeepers, will only strengthen our resolve to carry out our mandated tasks.”

Stringent security measures were taken along the road from Beirut to south Lebanon in advance of Sleiman’s visit.

Sleiman also inspected Lebanese Army positions in and around Tyre.

The visit comes after the Dec. 9 attack, the third against UNIFIL this year. Six Italian peacekeepers were wounded in May and five French soldiers were wounded in a blast in July. No one has claimed responsibility for either attack which took place in Sidon.

Italy said after the May attack that it would reduce the size of its battalion, leaving France with the largest contingent in the peacekeeping force.