IRA confirms arms plan

IRA has not outlined timetable for decommissioning

The IRA has confirmed it has agreed a plan to put its guns beyond use in a statement which falls short of unionist demands for actual decommissioning.

In a statement, the IRA said it has agreed a scheme to put its weapons "completely and verifiably beyond use" - confirming Monday's report from the head of the arms decommissioning body.

The announcement comes as the Northern Ireland peace process enters a crucial stage.

Ulster Unionists are demanding a timetable for handover of weapons and have said the IRA move does not go far enough.

Without some unexpected breakthrough, the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland may face suspension.

Jeffrey Donaldson: "We must have actual decommissioning"

Senior Ulster Unionist Michael McGimpsey said that while the IRA's statement had taken the arms decommissioning process "another step towards resolution, it has not been resolved".

"It is a significant step, but it falls short of what unionists want."

Hardline Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson insisted his party's position would not change on the decommissioning issue.

He said: "Unless we get actual decommissioning of IRA weapons then we cannot continue in the power-sharing executive with Sinn Fein."

However, Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey said the IRA had shown its commitment to the peace process and it was now up to unionists to live up to their responsibilities.

He said: "David Trimble signed up to the Good Friday Agreement and should let the de Chastelain's commission get on with their task and shoulder his responsibilities."

The SDLP's Mark Durkan said he hoped the IRA's statement would go some way towards help satisfy unionist concerns that the IRA has begun "a quality engagement with General de Chastelain's commission".

	:	Fast Facts Primer
Click above to launch a primer on what the governments have proposed.

Meanwhile Ian Paisley junior of the anti-Agreement DUP said: "There is no mention of putting all the guns beyond use and there is no mention of timing in the statement."

In its statement, the IRA said it would continue to meet the arms body - which it has met eight times since March.

However, it made no reference to a timetable for the actual decommissioning of weapons.

The IRA also said "ongoing attempts in some quarters to prevent progress" should "not be permitted to succeed" and that it will "continue to monitor" political developments.

Options of secretary of state

dissolve the assembly and call an election

impose a tactical one-day suspension which buys six weeks for further talks

impose an unlimited suspension and a review

combination of suspension, review or election

may try to find another way forward

The current crisis was precipitated by the resignation of David Trimble as first minister on 1 July, because the IRA had not begun to disarm.

To break the current deadlock the British and Irish Governments put forward proposals aimed at fully implementing the Good Friday Agreement.

The proposals are on the issues of arms, policing, demilitarisation and the stability of the political institutions. However none of the main pro-Agreement parties has accepted in full the package.

Alex Maskey: "David Trimble must leave de Chastelain to his work"

It is open to the government to suspend the institutions temporarily - for even one day - to allow a six-week breathing space, for the parties to search for new ways to break the deadlock.

The other options include holding an assembly election.

In order for the assembly to survive in its current form, the parties must elect a new first and deputy first minister before midnight on Saturday.

On Monday General John de Chastelain of the decommissioning body published his assessment of the chances for progress on arms, saying that he believed an IRA proposal "initiates a process that will put arms completely and verifiably beyond use".

However UUP leader David Trimble has ruled out a deal and a return to Stormont without actual IRA decommissioning.

This position brought a warning from Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams on Wednesday that he was taking the political process to the brink of collapse.

Assembly members must be given 24 hours' notice of any recall to the assembly during the summer recess.

That would mean that if the first and deputy first minister were to be re-elected by the Saturday midnight deadline, plans for an assembly meeting must be in place by Friday morning.