Enda Kenny has arrived in South Lebanon for the first visit by a Taoiseach to Irish peacekeeping troops in the dangerzone since 1999.

Italian soldiers began arriving today in Lebanon, part of the first large contingent of international troops dispatched to boost the UN peacekeeping force here since a truce between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas was agreed three weeks ago.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern adopted a firm stance in relation to the Israeli attack on the United Nations observer post in which four UN troops were killed this week.