-
Related
Northern Ireland waited in hope on Tuesday for a momentous disarmament move by the IRA that could signal the rebirth of the British province's stricken peace accord.
Republican sources in Belfast said the Irish Republican Army was likely to give a quick reply to an unprecedented call by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams for it to disarm.
Adams - whose party is the political ally of the IRA - threw a lifeline to the peace process on Monday when he said it was time for the guerrillas to hand in the arms they have used in a war that has killed 3,600 on both sides over three decades.
Commentators said he would not make such an appeal without knowing in advance it would succeed.
One republican source said the IRA would respond "sooner rather than later". With Adams due to travel to a function in London later on Tuesday it was thought the IRA's seven-member "army council" might respond before then.
Security analysts said the IRA, which is observing a ceasefire in its campaign to end British rule in the province, would not spurn the appeal made jointly by Adams and Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness.
The September 11 attacks in America and United States outrage at international terrorism have put pressure on the IRA to make good an offer it made 18 months ago to forego its weapons.
"It looks as if it's going to be a major breakthrough on this vexed issue. The key thing is the change in the international environment since September 11," said Henry Patterson, politics professor at Belfast's University of Ulster.
"There is no question of the IRA rejecting such a proposal. The decision has obviously already been taken," said Richard English, professor of politics at the city's Queen's University.
IRA to destroy bunkers
The IRA could destroy arms bunkers by flooding them with concrete. International inspectors, who have already visited the secret caches, could verify the weapons' destruction.
Timing is crucial. Last week, members of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), which represents many of the majority Protestants who want to retain ties with Britain, walked out of the province's home-rule cabinet in which they share power with mainly Catholic parties.
That threw the peace process into disarray, leaving Britain with a legal deadline this Thursday to call fresh elections or mothball the provincial government.
The Northern Irish assembly was only revived under the 1998 Good Friday peace deal as a step forward after decades of direct rule from London.
For maximum effect, the IRA is likely to move swiftly.
If Unionists are then satisfied that the province's disarmament commission has verified some form of IRA compliance, that would allow them to end their walkout and avert the collapse of the Northern Irish government.
Michael McGimpsey, one of the UUP ministers who resigned, said Unionist pressure for disarmament, or decommissioning as it is called in the peace process, was paying off.
"We will now judge the IRA by its action. We have heard Gerry Adams talking about decommissioning. We now want to see it happen."
Adams blamed Britain and Unionists for bringing the peace process to crisis, and made it clear that he expects London to keep its end of the bargain - by dismantling military bases.
"We have put to the IRA the view that if it could make a groundbreaking move on the arms issue, that this could save the peace process from collapse and transform the situation," he said.
But disarmament - which the IRA has traditionally equated to ignominious surrender - could bring its own problems for the guerrillas, who have been split be previous peace moves.
"I would appeal to republicans to stay united," said Adams. "I would particularly appeal to IRA volunteers and their families, and to the IRA support base, to stay together in comradeship... It is a time for clear heads and brave hearts."
© Reuters
World News Video
-
'King of Romance' competes in Eurovision (1:46)
-
Observers accuse both sides in Syria (0:26)
-
Man admits 'milk carton' murder (0:19)
