O'Dea withdraws support from Cowen

The former Defence Minister Willie O'Dea has said he will be voting against Brian Cowen in tomorrow's Fianna Fáil confidence motion.

Junior Ministers Billy Kelleher and Conor Lenihan have also indicated that they will be voting no-confidence in the Taoiseach.

But Childrens' Minister Barry Andrews, a supporter of Brian Cowen, has said there is a view in the party that it is too late to change the leader.

The Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin, who withdrew his support yesterday, said he believes more Cabinet members will follow suit by the end of the day.

He said the election campaign has been badly handled so far there is no "fire in the belly".

Mr Cowen remains confident that he has the support within the party to win tomorrow's vote, but his refusal to sack Minister Martin is being viewed as a sign of weakness.