IRA opposition to ceasefire monitor slammed

In a statement to a republican magazine, an IRA spokeman has rejected calls for an independent monitor to assess the status of paramilitary ceasefires in Northern Ireland.

In the An Phoblacht interview, the IRA said it remained committed to the peace process but accused "British intelligence agencies" of "indulging in disinformation" to discredit the republicans' role in finding a lasting settlement.

Sinn Fein's North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said republicans were not opposed to the idea of independent monitors to observe events in sectarian flashpoint areas of Belfast, but were opposed to a ceasefire monitor.

Responding to the IRA statement, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, who is advocating the monitor, said anyone "unionist or nationalist, reading the full text of the interview could not be other than taken aback at the disingenuousness and maliciousness of the IRA spokesman".

He added: "It comes as no surprise that the IRA accepts no responsibility for any of the problems in the political process."

The SDLP was also critical of the IRA statement, and North Belfast MLA Alban Maginness said the IRA's reaction was unnecessarily premature since the idea had not even been fully or definitively fleshed out.

"We would be anxious to find out more details about the idea and its operation before coming to any conclusions," he said.

Alliance Leader David Ford also accused the IRA of trying to mislead the public over proposals for an independent ceasefire monitor.

Mr Ford said: "The republican movement is deliberately attempting to muddy the waters by trying to present a ceasefire monitor as an anti-Agreement proposal.

"If the IRA has no intention of breaking its ceasefire and has nothing to hide, then they have nothing to fear."

Mr Trimble was due to discuss the issue in a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Thursday. (MB)