THE replacement of the 633 Irish troops serving with the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, due to have started tomorrow, has postponed for a week.
An Army spokesman said the decision had been taken by senior officers for safety reasons, as roads were jammed with refugees between the areas where Irish troops are located and Beirut. The closure of Beirut airport for most of the time was another reason.
Comdt Billy Harrington, speaking to The Irish Times from Tibnin last night, said many of the soldiers were disappointed at the delay in getting home after their six month tour of duty, but he accented the decision as being in their interests. Shelling had intensified yesterday, he said, as the improved, enabling Israeli to mount more raids in Lebanon.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Spring, expressed concern about the safety of the Irish troops and said the Government would "consider any measures that may be appropriate to ensure their safety". He called on all sides to exercise restraint.
Five ESB personnel restoring the Lebanese electricity network were working in the north east the country were safe, an ESB spokesman said.