Mixed reaction to arms report

Disagreement on weapons is at heart of peace process

There has been mixed political reaction to the international arms body's report that the IRA has agreed how it will decommission its arms.

On Monday afternoon, the commission, headed by General John de Chastelain, reported that the IRA's representative had proposed a method for putting IRA arms "completely and verifiably beyond use".

The Canadian general said: "We are satisfied that this proposal meets the commission's remit in accordance with the governments' scheme and regulations."

He also said that the proposal had "initiated a process that would put IRA arms completely and verifiably beyond use".

Gerry Adams: "Historic move from IRA"

However, he did not say when arms would be decommissioned or reveal the details of the agreed method.

The report by the commission came as the pro-Good Friday Agreement parties consider whether to accept the British and Irish Governments' latest proposals on how to break the political impasse.

The parties were meant to give their verdict on the package on the issues of arms, policing, demilitarisation and the stability of the political institutions by midnight on Monday. This now looks unlikely.

'Report represents progress'

The Ulster Unionists, in particular, have been waiting to see if the IRA will make a move on arms.

Lord Kilclooney of Armagh John Taylor: "Report is progress"

Responding to the arms report, John Taylor, Lord Kilclooney of Armagh and a senior Ulster Unionist, said the arms report "represents progress on the decommissioning issue".

"It is encouraging that the IRA have now submitted a scheme that satisfies the requirements of the commission as laid down in UK legislation," he said.

"The key question is: when will it happen? Until that is resolved, political instability will continue."

Jeffrey Donaldson: "Report does not set out timetable"

Anti-Agreement Ulster Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson said the move did not go far enough.

"The significance is not in what the IRA has said here, but whether or not it will now follow through and decommission its illegal weapons," he said.

"Unacceptable"

Ian Paisley, leader of the anti-Agreement Democratic Unionist Party, said the method of IRA decommissioning was being kept deliberately secret.

Mr Paisley was speaking after a delegation from his party met General de Chastelain on Monday.

He said this was "a totally unacceptable last ditch effort by a desperate governent".

Gary McMichael, the leader of the Ulster Democratic Party which is linked to the loyalist paramilitary UDA, said the IRA's move lacked the detail necessary for unionists to endorse the two governments' political package.

"Until republicans spell out in detail their intentions on disarmament, the proposals will not gain unionist support," he said.

However, Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid said the statement had the potential to resolve the issue of decommissioning.

"It is an important and a very significant step forward. I believe it provides the basis and the potential for rapidly resolving the arms issue," he said.

John Reid: "Significant step forward"

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said: "I think taken on its merits this statement is a very very significant and historic statement."

He said it was "clearly" enough to move the stalled peace process forward.

"Hopefully over the next number of days perhaps the outstanding issue of the commencement of that (disarmament) process hopefully will also move on," he said.

He said the Ulster Unionist Party officers should "reflect very carefully" on the statement when they meet in Belfast on Monday night.

'Opportunity'

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams welcomed the decommissioning body's report.

"The two governments, the UUP and the other parties should grasp the new opportunity that this unprecedented statement from the commission creates," he said.

"They should now move speedily towards the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement."

Mr Adams said the body and the paramilitaries "should be allowed to get on with the job of resolving the issue of arms".