Unionists attack IRA arms 'failure'

A potential deal to move the Northern Ireland political process forward has stalled on the issue of decommissioning, the Ulster Unionist leader has said.

David Trimble was speaking after a statement by the arms chief General John de Chastelain, who confirmed that the IRA has disposed of the largest consignment of weapons so far.

However, Mr Trimble said "the clear transparency required had not been delivered".

Earlier on Tuesday, the retired Canadian general confirmed a third act of decommissioning had taken place after briefing the British and Irish Prime Ministers, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, at Hillsborough Castle.

He said the quantity of arms put beyond use was "considerably larger" than that which had been previously decommissioned by the republican movement.

Mr Trimble said: "We had made it very clear to republicans and to the governments and to General de Chastelain what we needed was a clear, transparent report of major acts of decommissioning."

He said that would have had "a significant impact on public opinion and demonstrate that we were in a different context".

TUESDAY'S EVENTS 0710 BST: Downing Street announces 26 November election date 1030: Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams urges total support for political process 1215: IRA says there will be further act of decommissioning 1415: IRA says further act of decommissioning took place under agreed scheme 1600: Arms chief says a third act of decommissioning has been witnessed 1720: UUP leader says transparency over arms is needed 1820: Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern say Mr Trimble's statement is "a glitch" Reaction to the day's events

Mr Trimble said he had asked party officers to call a special council next Wednesday.

"This will give republicans, who foolishly imposed obligations of confidentiality on the arms body, and give the IICD an opportunity to repair the damage that was caused to this process today."

Prime Minister Tony Blair described the UUP leader's statement as "a last minute glitch".

Mr Blair and the Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, held talks with the Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, at Hillsborough later on Tuesday.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Blair said elections would still go ahead on 26 November.

The prime ministers said the parties had come a very long way but that more needed to be done.

"We are not going to be able to reach agreement tonight which is a great disappointment to us but we are going to carry on trying," said Mr Blair.

"There is a disagreement which is very specific and perfectly easy to describe. Whether it will be as easy to resolve I don't know.

"We remain reasonably optimistic that it can be resolved."

Mr Ahern said the question of clarity about a substantial IRA decommissioning act remained the only issue holding up progress in the peace process.

Talks are expected to continue on Wednesday to try to get an agreement between the parties.

Reacting to Mr Trimble's comments, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said he did not know how the situation "could be sorted out".

"We as a leadership are profoundly disappointed and surprised at this latest turn of events," he said.

Tuesday's events included an IRA statement and the announcement of fresh assembly elections by Downing Street.

Commenting on the IRA's third act of decommissioning, General de Chastelain said: "The commission has witnessed a third event in which IRA weapons are put beyond use in accordance with the government scheme and regulations.

They include automatic weapons, ammunition, explosives and explosive material General John de Chastelain

"The arms comprise light, medium and heavy ordinance and associated munitions.

"They include automatic weapons, ammunition, explosives and explosive material.

"The quantity of weapons involved was larger than the quantity put beyond use in the previous event."

Andrew Sens, General de Chastelain's colleague on the commission, said: "The material put beyond use this morning could have caused death or destruction on a huge scale had it been put to use."

But the general also added the IRA had again exercised its option to restrict what detail he could reveal about the decommissioning act.

Earlier, Downing Street confirmed a 26 November poll date and the IRA issued a first statement saying it was committed to resolving the weapons' issue.

Northern Ireland's devolved administration was suspended a year ago amid allegations of IRA intelligence-gathering in the Stormont government.

In a second statement on Tuesday, the IRA leadership confirmed that more weapons had been decommissioned.

Ahead of the IRA statement, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams urged total support for the political process.

Northern Ireland chronology

In some of the strongest words the Sinn Fein president has used in support of the peace process, he said Sinn Fein was "opposed to the use or threat of force for any political purpose".

Mr Adams said: "Sinn Fein wants to see the guns taken out of Irish society."

The announcement of an election date came after weeks of top-level negotiations between Sinn Fein and the Ulster Unionists, as well as the British and Irish Governments.

Assembly elections were postponed in May over what the government called a lack of clarity about the IRA's future intentions.

The Democratic Unionist Party reacted with scepticism to Tuesday's announcements.

The party's deputy leader Peter Robinson said there was nothing new from Sinn Fein or the IRA.

Gerry Adams had offered only "spin and hype", he said.

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