Chad mission delayed over lack of air support

IRELAND’S peacekeeping mission to the central African country of Chad has been postponed until next year due to what the Government said was a lack of adequate air support for troops.

Earlier this year the EU agreed to send aid workers and about 4,000 peacekeepers to Chad to protect refugees from neighbouring Darfur.

Most troops earmarked for the mission are from France but 400 soldiers are to come from Ireland, with Irish Army officer Lieutenant General Pat Nash in charge of the operation.