The SDLP today called on both Governments to back down from a "whispering campaign" against the head of the International Decommissioning Body, General John de Chastelain.
The call by the party's policing spokesman, Mr Alex Attwood, followed reports in a Sunday newspaper that London and Dublin were questioning the value of the body which has cost more than £6.5 million sterling since its inception five years ago.
Their reported unhappiness stems from General de Chastelain's appearance before the media 12 days ago when he gave a low key report on the IRA's third act of decommissioning.
Ulster Unionist leader Mr David Trimble has refused to agree to return to powersharing with republicans after the election, citing a lack of transparency in the decommissioning process.
Mr Attwood said the report was clearly an attempt to make the general a scapegoat for the failure of the carefully choreographed process.
"It`s clear that elements in the two governments, as well as some of the political parties, are trying to undermine and question General de Chastelain's work. The general is not to blame for the farce of two weeks ago when the deal collapsed," he said.
"That is the fault of the gang of four - the two governments and the problem parties, Sinn Féin and the UUP - and their fault alone.
"General de Chastelain was the only honest man in last fortnight's choreography and the only one to emerge with any credibility at the end of it."
He added: "Tony Blair needs to realise that the public have no confidence in him on weapons in Ireland, no more than they do in his handling of weapons in Iraq.
"General de Chastelain is the only man with legitimacy under the agreement and credibility in the eyes of the public on weapons. The whispering campaign against him must end."