No 10: IRA move 'historic step'

A move by the IRA to decommission its arsenal of weapons would be a "truly historic" step forward for the Ulster peace process, Downing Street declared today.

Tony Blair's official spokesman left little doubt that the Government expects the Provisionals to make an imminent announcement that it is starting to put its arms beyond use.

The spokesman emphasised the "painstaking" progress of the peace process, launched in Belfast on Good Friday, 1998, which he said had led to politicians who used not to "talk to each other" working together as ministers in a power-sharing executive.

He added: "If there is any response from the IRA we all need to recognise just how far we have come - and the truly historic nature of the response."

The Downing Street comments came as Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble declared he was ready to "respond positively" to get the peace process back on track if the IRA starts decommissioning.

There were signs that the IRA would make a statement within 48 hours that weapons had been put "beyond use" - a move which would then be endorsed by Canadian general John de Chastelain, head of the international commission on weapons inspection.

Mr Trimble said today that if such a statement was released, and that if he was assured by General de Chastelain that the IRA's move had been verified, his party would "respond positively". However, he urged continuing caution and claimed: "Let's not count our chickens before they are hatched."

A positive move from the Unionists would be for their ministers to return to Ulster's power-sharing assembly before a deadline of midnight on Thursday for reimposing direct rule from London on the province.

Sources both in Belfast and Whitehall expect that a speech tonight at Westminster by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams will provide republicans with a platform to celebrate the muchanticipated breakthrough.

Both he and his fellow Sinn Fein chief, Martin McGuinness, called for the IRA to begin disarming in simultaneous addresses last night, signalling the start of a carefully choreographed process.

Mr Adams said the Sinn Fein leadership had "put to the IRA the view that if it could make a groundbreaking move on the arms issue that this could save the peace process from collapse and transform the situation".

Royal Ulster Constabulary Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, predicted decommissioning could begin "very quickly".

Northern Ireland Secretary John Reid hailed last night's speech as "a highly significant statement from someone of Gerry Adams's authority and stature within republicanism".