N.Ireland disarmament chief calls for early start to process

The man given the task of securing the de-commissioning of weapons in Northern Ireland has called for a quick start to the process, following the referendum votes endorsing the peace accord.

The official, General John de Chastelain, from Canada, said his independent commission had already made contact with one of the groups which had political representatives at the peace talks and hoped to establish arrangements soon with the other two, which include the IRA.

He said it was not enough for guns to be left to rust where they'd been buried in arms dumps on both sides of the Irish border -- the weapons had to be surrendered.

The issue has already been highlighted by the main Protestant pro-agreement leader, David Trimble, in campaigning for elections to the new Northern Ireland assembly.

The vote is due a month today.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service