Irish general to take over key NATO post in Kosovo

An Irish Brigadier General is due to take command of a key NATO post in Kosovo today.

Sligo-born Gerry Hegarty will lead the KFOR mission in central Kosovo, which contains half the province's population and includes its capital, Pristina.

General Hegarty is a former director of operations with the Irish Army and already has extensive overseas experience in Lebanon, Bosnia and Macedonia.

Irish soldiers have been part of the KFOR force in Kosovo since it arrived in the area in 1999.

220 of them are currently based in the province, specialising in logistics.