Defence Minister meets with Lebanese counterpart in Beirut

Defence Minister Willie O'Dea has met with his Lebanese counterpart to discuss security reports warning of planned attacks on United Nations forces in Lebanon.

There has been a marginal increase in such threats recently.

157 Irish troops are based in Lebanon as part of the 1200 strong UN interim force.

The Lebanese government has also been asked to liaise with US authorities in an effort to apprehend the suspected killer of two Irish soldiers, who's believed now to be living in the US.

Private Tom Barrett of Cork and Dublin man Derek Smallhorn were shot to death in 1980 as they travelled in a UN Relief convoy.