More troops leave NI posts

The soldiers are returning to their English base

Troop levels in Northern Ireland have fallen to their lowest for 30 years with the departure of an army battalion.

The British Army has said the further reduction in troops reflected the improved security situation in the province.

The remaining members of the East Tyrone Battalion, based at Dungannon, County Tyrone, have returned to base in Dover, following a six month tour of duty in the province.

They were the last of 500 soldiers in the Third Battalion Parachute Regiment to leave Northern Ireland. They are not being replaced.

It means that troop levels in Northern Ireland stand at about 13,500 - the lowest since 1970.

All but one of the six battalions based in the province at the time of the IRA ceasefire in 1997, are now back at their bases in Britain.

The army has said only the battalions permanently based in the province will remain.

All those who were on six month emergency tours have now returned to their bases in England.

'Available for re-deployment'

RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan recently announced the further reductions in troop levels and said it "reflected the improved security situation in the province".

In a statement, the army said that the troops would "continue to be available for deployment in-province should the security situation require it".

The move is part of an overall demilitarisation programme and follows the closure of a number of army observation posts in Belfast and south Armagh to reflect the reduced threat of paramilitary violence.

Announcing the withdrawal, Sir Ronnie said it was "appropriate", even though there was still a security threat from dissident republican groups.

The decision to start scaling down the British Army presence in Northern Ireland was taken following the IRA's offer to put its arms "beyond use" on 6 May.

Mixed reaction

The security forces believe the IRA statement, in which it set a context for putting weapons and explosives completely beyond use, signalled a reduction in the security threat.

Sinn Fein has welcomed the moves, but has said it expects the British Government to honour commitments on further demilitarisation.

However, some unionists have said they feel the moves are "risky and premature".