Mr David Trimble's threat to resign on July 1st still stands despite the IRA's decision to allow a third inspection of some of its arms dumps. The inspections were said to fall far short of unionist demands for IRA arms to be put beyond use.
"There is no sign of any progress being made in fulfilling the republican movement's promise to put their weapons completely and verifiably beyond use, as set out on May 6th, 2000. It is that promise alone which must be fulfilled", the UUP leader and First Minister said.
There was a mixed reaction yesterday to the announcement of the inspections, which came at the height of the Northern Ireland election campaign.
The two international inspectors, Mr Martti Ahtisaari and Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, reported that the dumps, which contained a "substantial amount of military material", had not been tampered with and remained secure.
The inspectors said that they would continue to inspect IRA dumps. "The IRA has once again fully honoured their commitments and complied with the terms of our engagement, and we are convinced that this co-operation will continue", they said.
The inspectors had planned to examine dumps in the first three months of this year, but were unable to do so because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Gen John de Chastelain also reported yesterday that the IRA was continuing to engage with his Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in "pursuit of the [commission's] mandate" to resolve the arms issue.
An IRA source, setting the tone for the post-election negotiations, said that the IRA was honouring its commitments. In a reference to its demands for British government moves on policing and British army demilitarisation, it called on "others" to reciprocate.
Talks aimed at resolving outstanding issues related to the Belfast Agreement are expected to resume on June 18th. Mr Trimble has set an informal deadline for agreement by pledging to resign on July 1st if the IRA does not move on decommissioning.
The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, said that the inspections could not be viewed as a cynical election stunt. "It shows that the IRA very clearly are on a journey . . . to bring about a peaceful dispensation", he added.
The SDLP chairman, Mr Alex Attwood, said that the move might help to ease some of the concerns over illegal weapons.
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said that the inspections were "a pre-election gimmick by the IRA devised to help Sinn Fein eat into the SDLP vote without actually delivering any product".
The Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, said he hoped that the inspections and continuing IRA contact with the decommissioning body would "soon enable Gen de Chastelain to report progress on the putting of IRA weapons fully and verifiably beyond use".
Mark Brennock, Political Correspondent, writes: The Taois each and the Minister for Justice yesterday welcomed the reports of the weapons inspectors and of the decommissioning body. Mr Ahern welcomed what he said was an assurance from the inspectors that "the arms in the dumps are beyond use".
Mr O'Donoghue said that he looked forward to further progress on the weapons issue.
