NICOSIA [MENL] -- Lebanon has received another batch of security vehicles from the United States.

Officials said the Bush administration delivered 60 new sport utility vehicles on Feb. 7 as part of the U.S. program to equip the Lebanese Internal Security Forces. They said the SUVs were equipped with riot control equipment to help quell Hizbullah-sponsored unrest in Lebanon.

"The United States turned over 60 new Ford Explorer Sport Utility Vehicles equipped with sirens and lights to the Lebanese Internal Security Forces on Feb. 7, 2007," the U.S. embassy in Lebanon said. "Together this assistance will help the ISF to expand policing operations in Beirut and throughout the country, while also serving to protect the Lebanese people and their democratically-elected government from security threats posed by civil disturbances."

In January 2007, the United States pledged $220 million to assist the Beirut government with security and military. The allocation included $60 million to train and equip security forces, with the remaining funds meant to support the United Nations peace-keeping force in southern Lebanon.