The IRA and the president of its political wing Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, have urged their supporters to study the terms of the new Northern Ireland agreement carefully.

The paramilitary group confirmed it was still committed to a united Ireland and Mr Adams spoke of "our goal of a free and independent Ireland."

Adams: swamped by well-wishers beforre rally

Both statements came at rallies on both sides of the Irish border to mark the Easter Rising of 1916 when republicans took up arms against British rule.

Speaking at a rally in Carrickmore in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, Mr Adams said that "no section of the Irish nation can have a veto on the political destiny of the whole nation" and "the national territory is all 32 counties" of Ireland.

Adams: I am not being provocative

He urged republicans to examine the peace settlement in great detail and in the context of the party own's strategy, saying the talks had ended one phase of their struggle and the next phase would present many challenges.

"It needs to be considered - not through a unionist filter or an exaggerated hype by others - but in the context of our future strategy, policy and objectives. In other words - has the struggle been advanced and how can it be advanced further?"

Adams: Sinn Fein is a pivotal force

"There will be many difficult times ahead, but Irish republicans have demonstrated time and time again our capacity to overcome adversity and advance our struggle from freedom and justice against enormous odds."

A statement attributed to the IRA leadership read out at another rally in Milltown Cemetery, Belfast, and at other meetings said the IRA would "carefully study" the new Northern Ireland agreement "against its potential to move us towards our primary objective, a 32-county democratic, socialist republic."

It added: "We will judge it against its potential to deliver a just and durable peace to our country."

Speech will be studied

Adams: Accept your responsibility to consider this document

Mr Adams's speech will be closely studied by other politicians, including the British and Irish governments, seeking to divine Sinn Fein's thinking.

Sinn Fein members will also consider whether to accept the deal at their conference on April 18.

Sinn Fein supporters told it was their duty to study the document

Mr Adams opened his first public address since the agreement was sealed by "commending" the Tyrone Brigade of the IRA "for their courage tenacity and commitment down through the years."

He said some people might think that this was a "provocative statement" or that at a "difficult and dangerous juncture in our history that's me trying to pay homage to the hard men. It is not.

He added "So when I pay tribute to the IRA soldiers ... I pay tribute not just to their role when they make war but also to their role when they provide the opportunity of making peace."

Adams: we are not some ethnic minority

Mr Adams said that republicans had experienced high and low points, but that political change was now centre stage.

He said nationalists and republicans were not some "ethnic minority living in a foreign state" to be granted concessions.

He added: "We want to make peace with the unionists ... we want to live with them on the basis of equality."

Milltown address

A republican 'roll of honour"

Another rally was held at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast, the burial place for many members of the IRA who have lost their lives during the troubles.

Martin Ferris, one of Sinn Fein's main negotiators, told crowds that every page of the agreement will now be analysed by the party leadership before any further action on the deal is taken.

He said the aim remained the same - "an end to British rule in Ireland."

"It is a clear duty of all of you to read and study that document very carefully."

Sinn Fein's chief negotiator at the talks, Martin McGuinness, addressed a rally in Londonderry.

He said that every effort must be made to get the agreement of northern Protestants and unionists in the arrangements needed to replace partition.

"Clearly there is a huge gap of distrust. Unionists work on the basis that if you give nationalists equality, the Union is finished.

"I believe they are right. No process which excludes any section of society can hope to be successful. That is why the equality agenda has been one of our priority objectives in this process."

Members of rival republican organisations, the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) and Continuity IRA, denounced the settlement at other parades.

Both paramilitary groups do not support a ceasefire.
 

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