The United Nations Force which is policing the Middle East ceasefire will soon reach one third of its proposed strength of 7,000 officers and men.

U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, in a progress report on the operation, told the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday (October 31), that the governments of Austria, Finland and Sweden, which supplied the advance groups, have agreed to bring their contingents up to a battalies ???renth.

A 200 strong contingent of Finnish peace troops reached Suez town on Monday (October 28) and stationed themselves between the Israeli and Egyptian forces. A further 200 Swedish U.N. troops are in the area of the key, centre sector town of Ismailia.

A large number of the swedish, Austrian and Finnish U.N. troops have been setting up camp in the grounds of the Egyptian War College, in Cairo. Some will stay in Cairo on reserve, others will be deployed to the Bitter Lakes area south of Ismailia as soon as the logistic arrangements have been completed.