We are beyond the beginning but we are not yet in sight of the end John Major, British Prime Minister

The Irish Prime Minister, Albert Reynolds, called on loyalist paramilitaries to follow suit.

But loyalists are suspicious of the declaration and fear it may lead to a sell-out in which Northern Ireland's position within the United Kingdom is under threat.

The Ulster Unionist MP James Molyneaux said no moves towards talks should begin until the IRA had added the word "permanent" to the ceasefire declaration.

The announcement comes 18 months after secret talks began between the British Government and republicans.

It led to the Anglo-Irish Downing Street Declaration in December 1993 which stated that any change in the partition of Ireland could only come with the consent of those living north of the border. It also challenged republicans to renounce violence.

SDLP leader John Hume MP, who has been negotiating with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, was "very pleased".

But the British Prime Minister John Major was cautious in his reaction to the IRA announcement. "We are beyond the beginning," he said, "but we are not yet in sight of the end."

Ian Paisley, leader of the hard-line Democratic Unionists, rejected the wording of the declaration and said it was an "insult to the people [the IRA] has slaughtered because there was no expression of regret".

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