Irish troops will not begin their deployment to Chad as part of a delayed EU mission until next week at the earliest, as tensions continue in the central African country following a rebel attack on its capital.
The entire mission was put on hold last week when rebels seeking to overthrow President Idriss Deby advanced on N'Djamena. The rebels have now retreated from the capital but the situation on the ground remains unclear.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea said he expected the deployment of Irish troops to take place within eight to 10 days, providing the situation stabilised.
"This is contingent upon the prevailing operational circumstances and the availability of the airport," the Minister said.
Yesterday Chad's prime minister, Nourredine Delwa Kassire Coumakoye, dismissed a ceasefire proposal and French president Nicolas Sarkozy said France may intervene if the rebels launch another offensive.
France, which has a significant military presence in its former colony, obtained a non-binding statement from the UN Security Council on Monday, which called on countries to support Mr Deby's government against the rebels.
"If France has to do its duty, it will," Mr Sarkozy said yesterday, when asked if France would intervene.
French intervention risks complicating matters for the EU mission, known as EUfor, which is charged with protecting Darfuri refugees and displaced civilians in eastern Chad. France is providing more than 2,000 troops to the 3,700-strong EU force, which is led by Irish general Pat Nash. More than 400 Irish troops will take part.
An advance team for the EU mission is already in Chad, but the first three major flights of troops and equipment were cancelled last week as fighting erupted close to N'Djamena. A contingent of 54 Irish military personnel bound for Chad was forced to turn back before they left Ireland.
A spokesman for EUfor said the mission would continue its deployment when circumstances permitted.
"Currently we are following developments in Chad with great attention to seize the first available opportunity to commence deployment," Cmdt Dan Harvey told The Irish Times last night.
"There are, however, certain logistical and physical constraints and circumstances which preclude an instant return to the timeline previously approved."
Chief among these is that N'Djamena airport remains unavailable to the EU force. The airport is a small facility and is currently being used by French troops already stationed in Chad to evacuate foreigners from the country. France will require full use of the airport if it decides to intervene in the current crisis.
Contracts with private firms to transport EU troops and equipment to Chad will have to be renegotiated after last week's postponement. Mr O'Dea said the current turmoil in Chad was a matter for the Chadian authorities and did not fall within the remit of the UN-mandated EUfor mission.