O’Dea to review Irish peacekeepers ahead of Liberia mission

Defence Minister Willie O'Dea is due to review the Irish soldiers preparing for peacekeeping duties in Liberia during a visit to Collins Barracks in Cork later today.

Four hundred and thirty personnel from the 92nd Infantry Battalion are due to be deployed in the west African nation at the end of this month as part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The UN mission in Liberia began late last year, when President Charles Taylor resigned following a 14-year civil war that was on the verge of ousting him from power.

UN peacekeepers have been tasked with keeping the peace in the country, disarming the various rebel groups who were fighting Mr Taylor’s forces and supporting the transitional government set up following the former president’s departure.