The IRA today said it will end its armed campaign and resume disarmament. In a long-awaited statement released at lunchtime, the republican group did not say it would disband.
The order said members were to pursue peaceful means and not to "engage in any other activities whatsoever" - a reference to the low-level paramilitary activities which have angered not just unionists, but the London and Dublin governments.
With press conferences due later today in Dublin, Washington and London from Sinn Féin, the reaction from the unionists, and in particular the hardline Democratic Unionist leader, Rev Ian Paisley, will now be crucial to the future of the currently suspended power-sharing Stormont assembly.
The key passages of the lengthy statement read: " The leadership of [the IRA] has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon. "All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms.
All volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means.
"Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever. "
The full text of the IRA statement is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment