Sinn Féin: Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has called on DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley to meet his party for talks following Thursday's IRA statement which ended its campaign of violence.
As the British army began to dismantle its presence along the south Armagh border, Mr Adams told a press conference at his party's Falls Road headquarters that it was time for the DUP and republicans to talk.
"They need decisive leadership and that's for Ian Paisley and his colleagues to come to terms with," he said. "But I believe it's now time for dialogue between us.
"It's a matter of whether the DUP has the confidence to enter into that dialogue - I think it's a matter of when, not if [ that happens]." The DUP's Peter Robinson said unionists needed to be sure IRA activity had ended.
Mr Adams claimed the IRA statement represented a "landmark decision which will shape politics on this island for the time ahead". On the support for the IRA announcement from Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern, Mr Adams said: "I welcome yesterday's public commitments by the governments to deliver on their obligations and responsibilities under the Good Friday agreement. Of course, people will judge this on how the two governments deliver."
He said Sinn Féin wanted full delivery of all aspects of the agreement, including equality, human rights, and policing. "I welcome the efforts to bring demilitarisation to completion. We want to see this proceeding as quickly as possible." The Irish Times understands that the British government could announce its next demilitarisation steps in a statement next week, perhaps as early as Monday.
Turning to unionist criticism of the IRA statement for not containing an apology for the suffering brought about by its campaign, Mr Adams said: "The IRA has already said it is sorry for civilian fatalities and to bereaved families. I share that sorrow." There were "brave people on all sides". He said no human being with any compassion could not regret all deaths linked to the Troubles. However, "combatants" knew they were taking their chances and this included members of the RUC and British army as much as IRA members.
Asked if comments made by Fr Alex Reid that the brutal killings of the two British corporals during a west Belfast funeral could have been avoided, Mr Adams said he "just didn't know".
In Dublin the SDLP leader Mark Durkan said Sinn Féin should back the police as soon as possible. He also warned that the IRA could not continue in a criminal capacity. "You cannot be neutral between crime and law," he said.
"You cannot say you are not in favour of crime but also not in favour of the law. Sinn Féin have got to join us in taking a positive stand on policing. This cannot be allowed to wait."
On IRA criminality, Mr Durkan warned: "We have seen a private army for a political purpose in the IRA. We will be alert to ensure that there is no privatised army for a criminal purpose."