EU fears crisis as 'no' vote tipped in Irish poll

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

DUBLIN (AFP) — Early indications Friday pointed to a rejection of the Lisbon EU reform treaty by voters in Ireland, an outcome that would pitch the European Union into a new period of crisis.

"From what I hear, it is not looking good," Irish Europe Minister Dick Roche, a key leader of the "yes" campaign for Thursday's referendum, told AFP.

Partial tallies showed the "no" vote in the lead in Dublin and elsewhere, according to the RTE public state broadcaster which stressed that it was still too early to forecast the final result.

Ireland's roughly three million voters effectively hold the future direction of the entire EU -- population nearly 500 million -- in their hands as the Lisbon Treaty needs approval by all 27 EU member states.

Speaking from...