Arms move could save Executive

The IRA is expected to respond speedily and positively to Mr Gerry Adams's call for a gesture on arms to help stabilise the Belfast Agreement, according to well-placed sources last night.

The IRA response could come as soon as today or tomorrow, they added, which could create the conditions to allow the five unionist ministers be reinstated as Executive ministers and fully restore all the institutions of the agreement.

The IRA could delay its response, but, the sources added, this is unlikely because any unnecessary postponement of what is viewed as inevitable IRA action on weapons could allow time for unease and tension to develop within the broad republican movement.

There is general consensus that it would be "virtually inconceivable" were the IRA not to endorse the call from Mr Adams.

It coincided with a similar speech delivered by Mr Martin McGuinness in New York. This venue reflected the importance Sinn FΘin attaches to maintaining good relations with the US administration and Irish-America.

It is also seen as a dramatic attempt to mend fences with Washington after September 11th and the arrests of the three republicans in Colombia.

The British and Irish governments were quick to welcome Mr Adams's speech, delivered to journalists and over 100 republican activists in west Belfast yesterday evening.

The Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, is working to an effective deadline of Thursday when, in the absence of an IRA move on arms, he is faced with suspending the institutions.

The three UUP and two DUP ministers have already resigned from the executive but these resignations could be revoked up until Thursday.

Signals last night from the Ulster Unionist Yes camp were positive, although at the time of going to press Mr David Trimble was withholding comment. It was viewed as significant, however, that Mr Adams met Mr Trimble yesterday morning. This has raised speculation that the two parties were preparing a form of "political choreography" or sequencing to ensure that each side responded correctly and positively as each development unfolded.

Former UUP arts minister Mr Michael McGimpsey said Mr Adams's speech was "constructive and promising".

He added, "We will now judge the IRA by its action. We heard Gerry Adams talk about decommissioning - we now want to see it happen."

Anti-agreement Ulster Unionist MLA Mr Peter Weir, whose support may be crucial if Mr Trimble is to be restored as First Minister, was dismissive of the Adams speech, which he described as a "cynical ploy". The key sentence in Mr Adams's speech at Conway Mill in west Belfast, was: "Martin McGuinness and I have also held discussions with the IRA and we have put to the IRA the view that if it could make a ground-breaking move on the arms issue that this could save the peace process from collapse and transform the situation."