Politicians clash over army recall demand
Unionist and nationalists have clashed over demands for the British Parachute Regiment to leave Co Fermanagh following an incursion into the Republic.
SDLP Assembly member Tommy Gallagher has demanded the troops be recalled from the area due to their behaviour.
But the UUP candidate for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency says Mr Gallagher is risking security in his efforts to play party politics.
The Army has confirmed a paratrooper foot patrol inadvertently crossed the border near the village of Belleek on Friday night.
The regiment has been in the area since before Christmas to help demolish the final three army bases in Co Fermanagh as part of the overall military scaledown in Northern Ireland under the Good Friday Agreement.
According to Mr Gallagher the alleged incursion was the latest in a string of provocative acts, which has led him to call for the soldiers to leave.
"The place has been saturated with troops. There's been a very high profile and the soldiers have been behaving in a warlike fashion," he said.
His demands prompted an angry response from Mr Cooper, who was selected by the Ulster Unionists to stand in Fermanagh and South Tyrone when current MP Ken Maginnis retires at the end of this Parliamentary session.
He said: "His call for the withdrawal of this regiment at a time of increased terrorist threat from dissident republicans is totally irresponsible.
"It's motivated not from any concern for security needs of the local community but simply because the SDLP are running scared of Sinn Fein in the weeks leading up to the General Election".
