Tight security for minister's Middle East visit

Tight security will surround the visit to the Middle East of Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern later this month.

Mr Ahern will discuss the peace process in the war-torn region with government leaders in Lebanon, Israel and the West Bank.

Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea postponed a visit to Irish peacekeeping troops in Lebanon last month over security concerns in the wake of the assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel in November.

Mr Ahern and his Department of Foreign Affairs officials will be provided with close protection by armed local police officers while meeting leading politicians and peace activists in Beirut, Jerusalem and Ramallah.

The Co Louth TD was very critical of last summer’s month-long offensive by Israel against Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, which killed hundreds and caused millions of euro worth of damage to public infrastructure.

Mr Ahern is also due to discuss the Darfur situation in Africa with Egyptian government officials during the Cairo leg of his Middle East visit.

A spokesman said: “The minister is expected to ask Egypt to use its influence with Sudan.”

Last July, Mr Ahern was the first EU foreign minister to visit the troubled region since the signature of a local peace agreement.

He raised his concerns with Sudanese government officials in Khartoum and later in New York in September.

Official estimates say that at least 200,000 people have died in the conflict in Darfur, and more than two million people have been displaced from their homes and their livelihoods.

Four million people, two thirds of Darfur’s population, are in continuing need of humanitarian aid.

Ireland has provided over €16m in humanitarian aid to Darfur since 2004. Total Irish aid funding to Sudan in the same period exceeds €32m.