State accused of being part of build-up to war

The Government must end its "complicity" in the US build-up to war with Iraq, a press conference in Dublin was told yesterday.

Sinn Féin's Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD was speaking at the launch of the Irish end of an international "day of action" against war in Iraq. He joined Ms Patricia McKenna MEP, of the Green Party, and Mr Proinsias de Rossa MEP, of the Labour Party, in demanding that the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, immediately suspend permission for US military aircraft to overfly Ireland and land at Shannon Airport.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, rejected claims at the weekend that the Government was assisting the US military build-up. However, anti-war activists observing traffic at Shannon claim "hundreds" of soldiers in desert uniform passed through the airport last week.

Opposition parties have demanded clarification, with the Labour Party saying the Government appeared to be "quietly co-operating with the huge military build-up for war".

Ms McKenna said yesterday that the Government, "by facilitating the American war effort", was in breach of national and international laws.

She said it was in breach of Article 28 of the Constitution which says war may not be declared, nor may the State participate in any war, "save with the assent of Dáil Éireann".

Mr de Rossa called on gardaí to carry out "thorough inspections of aircraft at Shannon to ensure full compliance with Irish law".

He said Europeans were opposed to any war in Iraq "and rightly fear the outcome of such a conflict - tens of thousands of deaths, half a million people requiring medical treatment and millions facing possible starvation".