Trimble demands decisive action on decommissioning.

Sunday, 28 September 2003 5:41 AM

Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has reiterated his call to Sinn Fein counterpart Gerry Adams to provide clear and verifiable evidence that the Irish Republican Army has put its weapons permanently beyond use.

Mr Trimble said verifiable decommissioning was the only way to restart the stalled Northern Irish peace process.

He has met Mr Adams four times in the last two weeks in a bid to revive the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Speaking at a branch meeting of the Upper Bann UUP Association, Mr Trimble said: "The Government has rightly pointed out that acts of completion have to include 'an immediate, full and permanent cessation of all paramilitary activity'.

"That permanency would have to be demonstrated in both words and deeds. For almost a year we have been waiting for clarification from Sinn Fein as to the future status of their armed wing.

"We are still waiting. Acts of completion also necessarily means a completion to decommissioning.

"We need to be sure that this is going to proceed to a full conclusion. So the situation requires not a mere gesture towards decommissioning but decisive action in a context where we can see an end point."

The devolved assembly was suspended last October amid suggestions that the IRA has infiltrated Stormont and was running an intelligence operation.

Mr Trimble has pencilled in Assembly elections on 13 November but wants to see Sinn Fein back decommissioning wholeheartedly before October 16.

The former First Minister is expected to hold a fifth meeting with Mr Adams next week.

Sinn Fein said Mr Trimble should be "rational and reasonable" on what could be achieved.

Separately, Mr Trimble plans to meet Tony Blair next week to discuss the November election.

Mr Trimble is due to speak at a fringe event on Monday during the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

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