'Significant developments' but no deal on arms

The Prime Minister and Taoiseach have conceded that all efforts to secure a deal on arms before next month's Assembly elections in Northern Ireland have failed.

In statements, Mr Blair and Mr Ahern said that despite the failure to agree a deal, the developments of the last week were "significant".

Though roundly rejected by Ulster Unionists as "lacking detail", both Mr Blair and Mr Ahern praised General John de Chastelain's latest decommissioning report.

Looking ahead, both premiers urged all parties in the election campaign to work constructively as following the elections a way would have to be found to restore the political institutions.

Mr Ahern said that, with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, he looked forward to resuming political dialogue after the polling was completed on November 26.

Downing Street had earlier issued a statement regretting that "despite recent progress in the Northern Ireland peace process" it had "not been possible to resolve differences over decommissioning".

It was confirmed that the elections on November will proceed, and the British and Irish governments will then work with the parties to enable devolved government to be restored to the people of Northern Ireland.

Downing Street said: "This setback should not obscure the major steps forward taken by the Republican movement. The statement by Gerry Adams on 21 October, which was endorsed by the IRA, confirmed the commitment to exclusively peaceful and democratic means and signalled the full and final closure of the conflict. These developments and a third act of arms decommissioning by the IRA, overseen by the Independent International Commission, are greatly to be welcomed. And we pay tribute to General John de Chastelain and Mr Andrew Sens for their integrity and the professionalism with which they have undertaken their difficult task."

Both governments reaffirmed their commitment the Agreement as the "only way forward for inclusive political progress".

(SP)