REID TELLS COMMONS ‘NI SITUATION IS SERIOUS’

THE British Government have said they are disappointed with results from General de Chastelain’s decommissioning report.

Speaking in response to questions on Northern Ireland in the House of Commons on Monday, the Secretary of State Dr John Reid said: “The Agreement involved compromise, even pain for all sides. It will not work if each side only implement those parts they feel entirely comfortable with. There is now little time left to resolve the difficulties and obstacles that remain.”

He added that Northern Ireland faces a “serious and sombre situation” in the wake of David Trimble’s resignation and in the light of the de Chastelain report, which he said effectively indicated no decommissioning was taking place at this time.

However, Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern said that it was important to acknowledge how much had been achieved. He said: “The IRA in this report state their commitment to the peace process and their intention to verifiably put their arms beyond all use. They have said they do not represent a threat to the peace process.”

David Trimble, who was scheduled to make a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, stayed in London on Monday. He said that the findings of General de Chastelain’s report into the state of decommissioning reaffirmed his decision to resign as First Minister. He said: "I have no doubt that what I did was right in order to bring matters to a head and ensure the Agreement is kept.” (AMcE)