John Breslin visits Camp Clara in Liberia where 429 Irish UN troops will spend Christmas.

PRESIDENT Mary McAleese yesterday gave her strong backing to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who has faced calls for his resignation.

President Mary McAleese is to pay a morale-boosting pre-Christmas visit to Irish troops engaged in United Nations duty in Liberia next week.

Breslin reports on the work of Irish troops stationed in Liberia.

Defence Minister Michael Smith is due to travel to Liberia today to visit Irish soldiers on a UN peace-enforcing mission in the war-torn African nation.