IRA blames Trimble for peace process stalemate
The IRA has refused to move any more ground on disarmament until the peace process deal is restarted.
The Provisionals demanded more recognition from the Ulster Unionists after the paramilitary unit decommissioned the “largest amount of arms to date” last week.
In a statement, the IRA accused UUP leader David Trimble of reneging on the peace deal brokered between London and Dublin and representatives from both sides of the sectarian divide.
The statement read: “The political process these initiatives were designed to facilitate has been halted without a credible explanation from those who stopped it.
“The leadership of the IRA honoured our commitments. Others have not fulfilled theirs.
“This is totally unacceptable. When we give our word, we keep it. We expect others to do the same.
“Until they do so, there can be little prospect of progress on the issues they profess concern about.”
Gerry Kelly of the political wing of the IRA, Sinn Fein, said: “There is a lot of anger among republicans and nationalists, that once again it was republicans who delivered on their part of the agreement and, once again, others did not.”
The UUP refused to give its blessing for the planned elections at the Northern Ireland Assembly after the leadership raised questions on the details of IRA weapons decommissioning.
Mr Trimble told MPs yesterday: “Republicans should repair mistakes made on transparency and to agree the timetable for completion of decommissioning.”
Prime Minister Tony Blair insists elections will go ahead despite objections to the progress in IRA decommissioning. The Good Friday agreement will be reviewed afterwards.
Elections for seats at Stormont are expected to go ahead on November 26th.
