Further relaxation in Northern security and release of 20 prisoners announced

Further security relaxations in Northern Ireland have been announced by the RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan.

They coincided with the release of another 20 paramilitary prisoners and the disclosure that 180 members of the Royal Irish Regiment have handed over or had their personal protection guns withdrawn.

The security changes have annoyed some unionist politicians while Sinn Fein has been guarded in its reaction. The measures will put further pressure on the IRA for a reciprocal response on decommissioning.

Mr Flanagan said yesterday that the British military presence would be withdrawn from the permanent vehicle checkpoints at the Letterkenny and Culmore roads in Derry, and on the Lifford Road in Strabane, Co Tyrone. In addition, two observation sangars (posts) at the Crumlin Road in Belfast and on the main Dublin Road outside Newry, Co Down, are to be demolished, as is the permanent checkpoint at Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, from which, according to Mr Flanagan, the military presence has already been withdrawn.

The dismantling of the sangar at Cloughogue outside Newry involves the roadside element of the checkpoint, but not the major structure on the hill overlooking the Dublin Road. Mr Flanagan said the alterations reflected the RUC's and British army's commitment "to ensuring protection for the public, whilst continuing moves towards a normal policing environment".

"We have already seen the total ending of routine military patrolling widely across the province and significantly reduced patrolling elsewhere. Restrictions on movement around Belfast International Airport have been ended and there have been significant reductions in other security measures in Londonderry and Bessbrook. Troop levels too, have been reduced," said Mr Flanagan.

His statement on the security measures coincided with a complaint from the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley that personal protection weapons for a number of off-duty members of the RIR were being withdrawn.

The British army confirmed that 160 protection weapons had been handed over by members of the RIR to their unit armouries for safekeeping, and a further 20 were being withdrawn. Unlike RUC officers, off-duty RIR soldiers must have licences for protection weapons.

Dr Paisley said it was "intolerable" that RIR soldiers had to hand over weapons which were essential to their personal security. This was part of the demilitarisation process and a further sop to the IRA. He demanded a meeting with the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair. "I utterly condemn the government for this policy because it is putting people at risk. I also condemn the government for these men laid their lives on the line for Northern Ireland," he added.

The British army insisted there were no plans to order RIR members to hand up their guns permanently. A spokesperson said units were directed to carry out a review "in the light of the current security situation". It would remain within the authority of the soldiers' commanding officer to have guns withdrawn "if the individual is no longer considered to be under threat or if the applicant no longer meets the strict criteria for their issue". This was reviewed every six months.

Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, the Ulster Unionist Party anti-agreement MP, said the decision was alarming and crazy, and claimed it was part of an "ongoing appeasement to terrorism".

Dr Philip McGarry, the Alliance Party president, said such reaction was "way over the top". He looked forward to the day when no member of the British army or RUC needed off-duty protection weapons.

Mr Pat McNamee, the Sinn Fein Assembly member for Newry and Armagh, said while he welcomed any reduction in the "vast military apparatus" across the North "the process of demilitarisation needs to be accelerated".

Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain, the Sinn Fein TD for Cavan-Monaghan, said it was wrong of Mr Flanagan to say there had been "significant security reductions" in Bessbrook, south Armagh. "There has been no demilitarisation whatsoever in south Armagh."

Meanwhile, a further 20 paramilitary prisoners - 15 loyalist and five IRA - have been released. They included the UVF prison commander at the Maze, Mr Sammy Austin (53), who served four years of a 10-year sentence.

Nineteen prisoners were released yesterday while IRA prisoner Mr Francis O'Hagan was given his release on Tuesday even though he had been on compassionate parole to visit his seriously ill wife in hospital.

Mr Martin Meehan of the republican prisoners' pressure group, Saoirse, said he was disappointed that no women prisoners have so far been freed from Maghaberry Prison.