Irish special forces will not be travelling to the Democratic Republic of Congo after France turned down Ireland's offer of troops to join a EU peacekeeping mission in the war-torn country.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Michael Smith, had offered a number of Irish Rangers to join the French-led MONUC force, which began deployment in the northeastern province of Bunia at the weekend.
It is estimated that around 50,000 people have died in ethnic violence between Hema and Lendu tribes.
Under an agreement with the United Nations, Ireland is committed to providing up to 850 peacekeeping troops on request. Only 400 such troops are currently in service overseas - mainly in Eritrea, Kosovo and Bosnia - leaving capacity for the involvement of more than 400 troops in a mission to the DRC.About 100 special forces troops are based with the Ranger Wing, which previously served in East Timor.
However, France said today it would provide its own special forces for the mission, which will be made up of 1,400 troops, 900 of them French.
The deployment in the Congo marks the first EU peace-keeping operation outside Europe.