Anti-Lisbon groups join forces to launch No campaign

A number of groups opposed to the Lisbon Treaty are joining forces in Dublin today to launch a Campaign Against the European Constitution.

The coalition includes Sinn Féin, the Peace and Neutrality Alliance and the Irish Anti-War Movement.

They say they want Government ministers to answer questions about how the Lisbon Treaty will protect health, education and social services, as well as workers' rights.

Meanwhile, reports this morning say the founders of Libertas, which is lobbying for a No vote in the treaty referendum, are employees of a company linked to the US military.

Five of the seven members of the Libertas Institute Ltd are reportedly employees of the Galway subsidiary of Rivada Networks, which provides communications technology to the US military.

Libertas frontman Declan Ganley is the chairman, chief executive officer and founder of the company, but Libertas says it has not received any funding from Rivada.