Blair moves on Ulster deal

Tony Blair today signalled an immediate scaling-down of the British military presence in Northern Ireland in response to the IRA's historic arms move.

Ulster Secretary John Reid is due to announce a series of measures in the Commons this afternoon, expected to include the closure of Army bases and the dismantling of watchtowers.

At the same time, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble is preparing to revive the province's devolved government by taking his party back into the power-sharing executive.

Speaking on a breakfast television phone-in, the Prime Minister welcomed yesterday's announcement by the IRA that it had begun to decommission its weapons. He said: "I think it requires us now to push on with trying to normalise the security situation in Northern Ireland.

"We have obviously got to take account of the threats that still remain from splinter groups and others, but it allows us to make moves in that direction, and it allows us to get the political process started."

Mr Blair suggested that the terrorist attacks on 11 September had helped to push the IRA towards disarming, and said: "Everybody understands there is just no support anywhere in the world now for trying to resolve genuine political differences by acts of terrorism."

Dr Reid said the IRA move "enables us to make an immediate response to that act".

Downing Street said the first installations to be scrapped would be two Army watchtowers at Camlough in south Armagh, an Army base in Magherafelt, and a lookout post at a police station in Newtownhamilton.

The hilltop forts now heading for the scrapheap were built in the 1980s to prevent paramilitary activity along the border. They are widely hated by the nationalist community.

Declan Fearon, of the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee, who lives under a fort at Faughill Mountain near Jonesborough, said: "Now that decommissioning has occurred there is absolutely no reason for having them here. I would expect them to begin destroying them immediately."

The Prime Minister ' s spokesman said the changes are being undertaken on police advice in the light of the reduced risk of violence, following the start to decommissioning.

He said all security plans took account of a continuing threat from the Real IRA and Continuity IRA, as well as from loyalist paramilitaries.

Dr Reid also warned: "We have got loyalist groups and dissident groups who, far from even going on ceasefire or putting their arms beyond use, are still bombing."

The political wing of the Real IRA warned today that the group will step up its violence now that the Provisionals have abandoned the armed struggle.

Joe Dillon, spokesman for the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, said: "They will no doubt take up the mantle of being the IRA now. As long as the British remain on the island of Ireland, there will be a challenge to them."

The IRA announced yesterday afternoon that it had put weapons beyond use, saying the move was "to save the peace process".

General John de Chastelain, head of the international disarmament body, witnessed the event and said in a statement: "The material in question includes arms, ammunition and explosives."