Dail to be recalled on Thursday for Iraq debate

The Government is to recall the Dail on Thursday morning for a six-hour debate on the imminent US/British war against Iraq.

Last night, US President George W Bush gave Iraqi President Saddam Hussein two days to leave the country or face war.

The Irish Government had previously stated that a UN resolution authorising war was a "political imperative", but the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, suggested during his recent trip to Washington that he would allow the US military to use Shannon Airport even in the absence of a UN resolution.