IRA set to release peace pledges statement

The IRA has confirmed that it will release the statement setting out peace pledges it gave to the British and Irish Governments…

The IRA has confirmed that it will release the statement setting out peace pledges it gave to the British and Irish Governments last month.

With the British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair halting the Northern Ireland Assemblyelections because he said republicans had not given clear assurances of an endto all violence, the provisionals vowed to reveal what they had put on thetable.

Once rank-and-file activists had been briefed on its contents it will be madepublic, the paramilitary organisation disclosed in an announcement tonight.

It said: "The IRA leadership has authorised the release of their statementthat was given to the two governments on April 13.

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"First and foremost the statement must be shown to all IRA volunteers.

"Upon completion of this process the statement will be released to thepublic."

The Northern Ireland peace process was plunged into new crisis when Mr Blairpostponed the May 29 poll to the Stormont power-sharing regime.

The joint British-Irish declaration which was scheduled to form part of a dealwith the IRA statement has now been published in a bid to put more pressure onthe IRA.

Commitments to slash troop levels in Northern Ireland by nearly 10,000 to apermanent garrison of just 5,000, pull down military watchtowers in Belfast andsouth Armagh, and grant a virtual amnesty to on-the-run paramilitary prisonersare included in that document.

The package depends on the IRA keeping its side of the bargain, the British governmenthas stressed.

Mr Adams has insisted republicans have bent over backwards to prove theircommitment to peace, and accused London of casting Northern Ireland backto a situation similar to the Civil Rights movement at the start of theTroubles.

Republican anger is set to be vented tomorrow when thousands gather in Belfastand Derry for the annual hunger strikers commemoration rallies.

The IRA's announcement followed an earlier call from Northern IrelandSecretary Paul Murphy for the provos to issue a new statement before theelections.

Mr Murphy warned that the process could be thrown into new turmoil without afresh declaration.

PA