IRA opens up arms dumps

Weapons inspectors told Tony Blair IRA arms dumps were secure

Political leaders have welcomed an announcement that international inspection of IRA arms dumps has begun.

The two statesmen appointed to inspect the weapons, Cyril Ramaphosa and Martti Ahtisaari said they have been "shown a substantial quantity of IRA arms, including explosives".

They added they "have ensured the weapons are secure and cannot be used without their becoming aware that this has happened".

This initiative demonstrates once more our commitment to securing a just and lasting peace

IRA statement

The two men met Prime Minister Tony Blair in Downing Street on Monday morning to update him on what they had seen.

After their meeting Mr Blair said the inspections represented "a very substantial further step along the road to a lasting peace".

He added that although there was still a long way to go in the political process, Northern Ireland "has never had a better prospect than it has had today".

The inspections report was presented after the IRA released a statement on Monday saying some of its arms dumps had been inspected and it had renewed contact with the decommissioning body.

'Satisfied'

The inspectors said in their report: "All our requests were satisfactorily met.

"We plan to re-inspect the arms dumps on a regular basis to ensure that the weapons have remained secure.

"The process that led to the first inspection visit and the way in which it was carried out makes us believe that this is a genuine effort by the IRA to advance the peace process."

We plan to re-inspect the arms dumps on a regular basis

Arms inspectors

The inspectors also said in their first report that they had been briefed by Mr Blair and Mr Mandelson, among others.

They said they had also consulted "most of the parties that had endorsed the Good Friday Agreement".

They added: "In addition, we consulted independent specialists in the field of arms control, who had previously participated in arms inspections elsewhere and had expertise in the area of verification.

"The purpose of these consultations was to help us develop credible methods for inspection and verification."

'Arms and explosives'

In its statement, the IRA said that the dumps inspected "contained a substantial amount of material including weapons, explosives and other equipment".

It is believed three dumps were inspected.

The IRA agreed in May to allow the two international inspectors to verify that some of their arms dumps were secure as part of the package of proposals to reinstate Northern Ireland devolution and the power-sharing executive.

David Trimble: Called for IRA gesture on weapons

This "confidence building measure was to be carried out "within a few weeks" of the executive being re-established.

Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari and ex-ANC secretary-general Cyril Ramaphosa were appointed as the international arms inspectors to report to the decommissioning body headed by Canadian General John de Chastelain.

In its latest statement the IRA said: "On May 6th the leadership of the IRA announced an unprecedented initiative which had the effect of breaking the impasse at that time in the peace process."

It added: "The leadership of the IRA have consistently sought to enhance the peace process. This initiative demonstrates once more our commitment to securing a just and lasting peace."

Recently First Minister and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble said there would be "a serious problem" and "consequences" if the IRA did not make a gesture on weapons soon.

However, Sinn Fein has warned unionists and the government against issuing "ultimatums".

The Ulster Unionist leader only narrowly persuaded his party to return to the Northern Ireland's power-sharing executive, including Sinn Fein, following the IRA's offer.

This was after the British and Irish governments wrote to the political parties on 5 May outlining their plans for the full implementation of the agreement, including its sections on policing, criminal justice and equality, by June 2001.