Ahern signals use of Shannon for US war

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has given his strongest indication yet that the US will be able to use Shannon Airport regardless of UN backing for war in Iraq.

Mr Ahern sought to differentiate between Irish backing for war and the use of Shannon by insisting that the airport had nothing to do with the war effort.

After meeting with US President George W Bush in the White House yesterday, he said Shannon was not a military facility and had not operated as one.