War must have UN backing, says Ahern

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night said a second United Nations resolution before any military action against Iraq was a political imperative.

But Mr Ahern is still refusing to state whether the Government will halt the use of Shannon Airport by the US military if the Bush administration undertakes unilateral action against Saddam Hussein without UN backing.

Maintaining the authority and the primacy of the UN was the priority for this country, Mr Ahern said.