'This is the day we were told we would never see'

The respective leaders of provisional republicanism and Ulster unionism were united last night in their belief that Northern Ireland was at a pivotal - and positive - turning point in its bleak history.

"This is the day we were told would never happen. This is the day we were told we would never see," said UUP leader Mr David Trimble after being told by Gen John de Chastelain how the IRA had begun to dispose of its weapons.

Sinn FΘin president Mr Gerry Adams said: "This is a huge moment in the history of our island, in the relationships between our island and the island of Britain, in the history of physical force republicanism. Let's not fritter it away or reduce it."

The future of the Belfast Agreement now appears more assured after Mr Trimble so positively welcomed the move by the IRA to start disposing of its huge arsenal.

The IRA broke with staunch republican tradition by allowing Gen de Chastelain and two of his colleagues on the decommissioning body to witness it putting some of its weapons beyond use.

The unprecedented move was welcomed in Dublin, London and Washington.

President Bush said it was an historic step by the IRA "The people of Northern Ireland are now measurably closer to the lasting peace which they richly deserve," he said.

In Washington, Mr Martin McGuinness was accorded a meeting with the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, and Mr Bush's special envoy on the North, Mr Richard Haass.

In the North, the most telling reaction came from Mr Trimble who said he would recommend to his ruling 110-member executive on Saturday that the UUP return to government with Sinn FΘin. He may in the meantime revoke the resignations of his three ministers by tomorrow.

At 5 p.m. yesterday, the IRA confirmed in a statement it had begun disposing of weapons. About two hours later the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning said the act was in accordance with the legislation that these arms should be permanently unusable and permanently inaccessible.

"We have now witnessed an event - which we regard as significant - in which the IRA has put a quantity of arms beyond use. The material in question includes arms, ammunition and explosive," it said.

The decommissioning body, however, would not provide additional details because that "would not further the process of putting all arms beyond use". It added: "We will continue our contact with the IRA representative in the pursuit of our mandate."

Mr Trimble and some of his senior colleagues met Gen de Chastelain to be briefed about the act last night. There was some lingering concern that if Mr Trimble quibbled with some of the detail, it could undermine the potential to fully restore all the institutions of the agreement, including the North-South bodies.

As it turned out Mr Trimble was very positive in his response. "Gen de Chastelain and his colleagues personally witnessed the putting of weapons beyond use. They key thing is that they are absolutely satisfied that this material will never, ever be used again." A "substantial" amount of arms was put beyond use, he added. "People who talked about concrete lids or caps over bunkers - well, that is not the case," he said.

Mr Trimble must now try to win sufficient support to be re-elected as First Minister. If successful it is almost certain that SDLP leader designate Mr Mark Durkan would join him as Deputy First Minister. Informed sources say Mr Seamus Mallon is happy to pass on this mantle to Mr Durkan.

The British government is set to respond "generously" to the IRA initiative. The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, praised the IRA for its "courage and boldness". It is expected that today or tomorrow the Northern Secretary, Dr John Reid, will announce a number of demilitarisation measures and that very shortly a number of British army structures in south Armagh and elsewhere will be dismantled.

Mr Blair said this did not end all the problems that have beset the political and peace processes but it meant that "politics was working" and that the "process can now move forward again". He urged the loyalist paramilitaries to follow the example of the IRA but last night UVF and UDA sources gave no indication of any plan to make a move on arms.

The DUP was dismissive, saying the IRA move did "not even scratch the surface".