Ahern had backing of 21 EU leaders for top job

THE overwhelming majority of EU leaders wanted the Taoiseach to become EU Commission President, Bertie Ahern said yesterday.

Revealing that 21 EU leaders were backing him for the post, Mr Ahern said he felt could have easily got support from the remaining three countries.

Although he had been tempted to accept the job, the Taoiseach said he wanted to continue his work at home and declined to reveal the three non-committal leaders.