Paisley rejects IRA arms statement

The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said yesterday there was "no substance" in the IRA's statement on arms and by supporting…

The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said yesterday there was "no substance" in the IRA's statement on arms and by supporting it the British government had condemned the people of Northern Ireland to the prospect of "permanent paramilitary representatives" in power.

Emerging from a 45-minute meeting with Mr Blair in Downing Street, Dr Paisley, accompanied by his deputy, Mr Peter Robinson, said he had gained "no satisfaction" from his talks with the prime minister.

Dr Paisley said the Belfast Agreement had now been changed and he had challenged Mr Blair to allow the people of Northern Ireland to vote on it in a referendum, but the prime minister refused. "He was absolutely refusing to give any straight answers to anything," Dr Paisley said. "He will learn that the people of Northern Ireland are as determined to stand up to an imposed settlement as the people of London."

Downing Street described the meeting as a frank exchange of views and the prime minister was "not under any illusion" that he would convert Dr Paisley to the merits of the Belfast Agreement.

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Earlier, Dr Paisley criticised the scaling down of the security presence, accusing Mr Blair of only being interested in preventing bombs exploding in Britain, with Northern Ireland being offered up as "the sacrificial lamb".

Dr Paisley also raised the prospect that the two DUP members would not take up their ministerial positions when the suspended Executive resumes.