Irish troops to be deployed in Sarajevo

The Minister for Defence, Michael Smith, will today review the group of Irish troops that are to depart for Sarajevo in one week.

The Irish soldiers are to depart on a six-month tour of duty in the Balkans.

The group, under the command of Commandant Joe Scanlon, consist of troops who have been on previous UN missions in the Lebanon, Cyprus and Kuwait.

The 50 army soldiers will be stationed at the S-For headquarters in Sarajevo and will continue the history of members of Irish defence forces being deployed in Sarajevo in June 1997.

The soldiers are to be responsible for the military policing of the HQ, where there is a large international force stationed.