Cowen refutes FF leadership rumours

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Brian Cowen last night insisted there was "no truth" in reports of a secret deal between himself and Bertie Ahern over the leadership of the Fianna Fáil party.

Mr Cowen denied reports of an agreement that he would take over as leader of the party when the time came for the Taoiseach to gave up the post.

"There is no truth to it and I don't know how many times one has to say this for it to be no longer a distraction," the deputy leader of the party said at a Yes to Nice campaign launch in Dublin.