IRA warned to honour agreement

Thursday, 16 December 2004 12:00 AM

Democratic Unionist Party leader, Dr Rev Ian Paisley, has suggested the IRA is about to decommission its weapons, without having independent monitors bearing witness to the event.

The veteran MP said the move would jeopardise the Anglo-Irish initiative to restore devolved government at Stormont.

The DUP insists photographic evidence is a precondition for sharing power with Sinn Fein.

Speaking at Hillsborough Castle after talks on Tuesday with the Northern Ireland Secretary, Paul Murphy, and Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, Dermot Ahern, he said: "If the IRA does not perform it's obligation as envisaged in the comprehensive agreement, then it's refusal to meet these terms will have very serious consequences in respect of the DUP's attitude to other elements of the comprehensive agreement."

Meanwhile, Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, said he would not apologise to Dr Paisley in the Irish parliament for remarks made on Monday to the effect that photographic was unnecessary for the peace deal.

Dr Paisley had threatened to sever all contact with Dublin.

The warming promoted the Irish premier to phone and reassure the firebrand Protestant leader.

On Wednesday, Mr Aherrn said the IRA should allow "fair and reasonable" photographs of decommissioning and renounce criminal activities.

Mr Ahern said: "Clarification is required that the IRA's commitment is, indeed, to a complete ending of paramilitarism and other illegal activity."

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