An Irish Army General has been asked by the UN Secretary General to continue as head of one of its top missions in the Middle East.
Major General Carl Dodd, of Newbridge, Co Kildare, has been Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation, UNTSO, for two years.
General Dodd had been due to step down next April. However, General Dodd, who is 60, has now agreed to stay on for a further year.
He is based in Jerusalem and UNTSO also operates in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
The General is originally from Mallow and is a former deputy Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
