Irish anti-war protesters are calling on the Government to ignore the US call for an "internationalisation" of the conflict in Iraq by refusing to send troops to Iraq.
The call comes from a broad alliance of organisations, including the Irish Anti-War Movement, the NGO Peace Alliance and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA).
According to Mr Roger Cole, chairman of PANA, Irish participation with a UN force in current circumstances would effectively commit Irish troops to supporting the US occupation of Iraq and would consequently breach Irish neutrality.
Although not opposed to participating to peacekeeping duties in Iraq at a future date, anti-war groups say the current proposal to send in a UN force under American military commanders would only exacerbate an already difficult situation for Iraqis.
The groups are calling on Irish people to demonstrate opposition to the proposals at a rally in Dublin this Saturday, which will be addressed by MEP Mr Proinsias De Rossa, Ms Patricia McKenna of the Green Party and representatives of the anti-war movement in Ireland.
They are also calling for an end to the use of Shannon as a refuelling stop for US war planes and for the charges against demonstrators who were arrested at the airport earlier this year to be dropped.
The Irish Anti-War Movement is also calling for a consumer boycott of the products and services of oil companies who refuel American planes at Shannon.
Saturday's demonstration begins at 2 p.m. in Parnell Square, Dublin, and organisers anticipate that several thousand people will participate.