The government in Britian has published draft legislation for the early release of up to four-hundred paramilitary prisoners.

The minister responsible for Northern Ireland, Mo Mowlam, said the plans to release convicted members of the IRA and Protestant groups were subject to all parties maintaining their ceasefire and co-operating with measures to take weapons out of service.

The parliamentary bill was welcomed by the main Protestant leader, David Trimble, and the political wing of the IRA, Sinn Fein.

But the BBC political reporter says many people insist on the handing-over of weapons before freeing prisoners, and the issue is likely to dominate elctions later this month to a new Northern Ireland assembly.