Mr Gerry Adams has described British guidelines on the use of plastic bullets, published for the first time yesterday, as "not worth the paper they are printed on". The Sinn Fein president demanded the immediate withdrawal of baton rounds and a full and independent public inquiry into their use. He was speaking after the "declassification" of the British Home Office guidelines.
They recommend that the RUC should attempt to issue rioters with public warnings before firing plastic bullets. They also call for the maintenance of records which list any injuries inflicted from the discharge of baton rounds.
The RUC is advised that plastic bullets must not be fired at a range of less than 20 metres, unless there is a serious and immediate risk to life which cannot otherwise be countered. The guidelines state that rounds should be directed at selected individuals and not indiscriminately at the crowd.
Mr Adams said: "The RUC and British army regularly, and with impunity, breach these guidelines and have done so for two decades. There is only one answer to the issue of plastic bullets and that is to introduce an immediate ban."
It was regrettable that the British Labour government was bowing to "RUC and British army pressure" and abandoning its pre-election policy of withdrawing baton rounds, he said.
"Once again British ministers are excusing the use of a weapon which, over 20 years, has established a record for killing and maiming."
Meanwhile, young republicans held a rally outside Belfast City Hall yesterday demanding a ban on the weapons.
Around 150 young people, carrying placards bearing the pictures of children killed by baton rounds, attended the demonstration. They called for the disbandment of the RUC.
On Tuesday, RUC Chief Constable Mr Ronnie Flanagan appointed a senior officer to head an investigation into the injury of two Catholic teenagers during disturbances in west Belfast earlier this month.
Gary Lawlor (14) suffered serious injuries when he was hit on the back of the head by a plastic bullet, and Maire Walsh (13) was hit in the mouth.