Trócaire slams humanitarian talks on British warship

The aid agency Trócaire is refusing to take part in talks on humanitarian relief that are due to be held on a British warship in Dublin today.

The talks are due to take place during a visit to Dublin by HMS Ocean, which was centrally involved in the British invasion of southern Iraq three years ago.

Trócaire director Justin Kilcullen has described the move as insensitive given the fact that the vessel itself could be involved in creating a humanitarian crisis.

"What is happening is that the role that the traditional agencies led by the Red Cross and others has played has now been taken over essentially by a military agenda," he said.

"I think we have say stop to that. We are not going to be manipulated by an overall effort that is being run from a military perspective or co-ordinated by the military."