ROME - Italy may assume command of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon from the French a few weeks early -- in January instead of February, Italian State Secretary for Defense Marco Verzaschi said.

The date of taking over UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) "could move (forward) by a few weeks at the most" from February 19, he told the ANSA news agency.

The Italian daily La Repubblica reported Wednesday that the United Nations was preparing to officially ask Italy to take over the command of UNIFIL on January 24 because of "differences" between French General Alain Pellegrini and both the United Nations and his own general staff.

Asked for comment in New York, UN officials would not confirm the report but said Pellegrini was expected to end his mandate on schedule.

"There should not be major changes in the timing: the naming of the new command could move by a few weeks at the most. We have no interest in this change happening more than 20 days before the date set by the UN," Verzaschi told ANSA.

"Italy has not expressed the wish either politically or diplomatically to bring forward the transfer of this command, nor has it expressed any judgement on the performance of the current command," Verzaschi said.

"It is an issue that has more to do with internal dynamics of the French army general staff," he added, without elaborating.

"Italy's motivation, like that of all countries involved in the UNIFIL mission, is not competitive but one of deep collaboration," he said.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi paid a Christmas Eve visit to the some 2,500 Italian troops in Lebanon -- nearly one-fourth of the UNIFIL force -- and met with his Lebanese counterpart Fuad Siniora. -AFP