IRA urged to act over weapons

The Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has said republicans can still salvage the Northern Ireland peace process by getting rid of their weapons.

But Mr Trimble said that if the IRA does not move on the arms issue, the British Government should suspend the assembly for a short period of time to give republicans more time to deal with the weapons issue.

He was speaking on Thursday after the IRA said it had agreed a scheme to put its weapons "completely and verifiably beyond use" - confirming Monday's report from the head of the arms decommissioning body.

Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionist Party are holding separate talks with Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid to discuss the latest developments.

The moves have come as the Northern Ireland peace process enters a crucial stage.

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

David Trimble: "If the IRA does not move, the crisis is their responsibility"

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

But Mr Trimble said: "Even at this late stage the republicans can still save process and save the assembly by acting. But if they don't act, then it is they who have put the institutions at risk.

"It is their failure to move that has brought about this crisis."

Mr Trimble said he welcomed the IRA's latest statement confirming it had agreed a method for decommissioning with the arms commission.

But he said: "We have gone past the point at which where words alone would be sufficient.

"We have had words, we have had promises. Promises have not been kept.

"The only thing that would create public confidence now would be for it to happen. It still could happen."

Mr Trimble said that he hoped the Northern Ireland secretary would suspend the assembly, rather than calling elections.

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But he said it would be "pointless" to suspend the assembly for a six week period "unless it is clear that something is going to happen."

"The IRA's statement could be taken to mean that they intend at some point to decommissioning, but the question remains: At what point?"

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

However, Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey repeated his party's opposition to the suspension of the institutions, insisting this was pandering to Mr Trimble.

He said: "You cannot build on progress by abdicating your political responsibilities.

"David Trimble must stand indicted as the leader of an Ulster Unionist Party which is walking away from this process."

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.

The government's options

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.

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.