Security sources in Northern Ireland expect the IRA may re-engage with Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body in the coming weeks.
Sources close to the decommissioning process said yesterday that there was still informal contact between figures representing the IRA and the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD).
It is believed the republican leadership has been urged to take such a course during recent discussions with representatives of the US administration, in the aftermath of the arrests of the three Irishmen in Colombia over a month ago.
This week's terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon have also created a climate of intolerance towards any group that continues to pursue insurgent or terrorist campaigns. If the IRA does not begin to make moves towards decommissioning, its political wing, Sinn Fein, could face sanction from the US government.
The US State Department has stated publicly it takes a very serious view of the IRA's links with the Colombian guerrilla group FARC.
The fact that the IRA has had long-standing links with guerrilla and terrorist groups in the Middle East and North Africa will also endanger the tolerance shown to republicans that developed during the administration of President Clinton.
The IRA issued a statement on August 8th that it had engaged in discussions with the IIDC to discuss putting arms "verifiably beyond use".
A few days later, however, it stated it had withdrawn its co-operation, citing the British government's decision to set the September 23rd deadline for the suspension of the Stormont Assembly because of the resignation of the First Minister, Mr David Trimble.
Republicans also accused the Ulster Unionists of not responding positively to the IRA statement.
The other loyalist and republican terrorist groups in the North remain in discussion with Gen de Chastelain, but none has given any indication it intends surrendering arms.
All the groups have continued to perpetrate acts of violence, including murders and robberies, and to recruit, train and acquire weapons.
Reports in Belfast suggest the republican leadership is holding meetings to discuss its next move on decommissioning.
The events in Colombia and now the US also appears to have caused hesitation in Sinn Fein about the proposed visit of its president, Mr Gerry Adams, to Cuba and Latin America, announced at the start of August. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein is expected to meet the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, about its attitude to policing reform in Northern Ireland. The Ulster Unionists and the DUP met Northern Ireland Secretary Dr John Reid in London yesterday to discuss the same issue.
Sinn Fein and the two unionist parties have so far refused to nominate members to the proposed new Police Board.
The change of name from RUC to Police Service of Northern Ireland and other proposed changes cannot take place until the board is in place. The SDLP is the only party to agree to nominate to the board.
It is hoped that if the policing issue can be resolved, a way might be found to prevent the suspension of the Assembly, due next Sunday.
If not, the British government will be faced with either calling new elections or renegotiating the Belfast Agreement.