Irish troops may join Afghan force next year

In response to the announcement today that the European Union has agreed to create a multinational peacekeeping force for Afghanistan, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern today said it was possible Irish soldiers could join this force in the future.

Speaking on RTÉ radio's News At Oneprogramme Mr Ahern said Irish troops would not be sent immediately, but that they could be sent next year. "We can not assist at this stage because of the scale and the type of requirements that they have.

"But next year that could well change and we would have to look at the situation then," the Taoiseach said.

Earlier today, the Belgian Foreign Minister Mr Louis Michel announced that the force, in which all 15 EU member states would be involved in some way, would number between 3,000 and 4,000.

EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana said the force would probably be led by Britain, with other EU states participating.

"All member states will be present, I think this is of capital importance for Europe's security and defence policy. I think you can say it's a turning point in the history of the European Union," Mr Michel said.

It was not immediately clear how the EU plan would fit in with UN-led efforts to put together a peacekeeping force to provide security once US-led military action against bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and the Taliban ends.