US President George Bush is being urged by unionist politicians to deliver a strong statement callingon the IRA to declare its war over during his two-day visit to Northern Ireland.
Despite his obvious focus on the war in Iraq, the US President will meet theleaders of Northern Ireland's pro-Agreement parties at Hillsborough Castletomorrow as part of efforts to put the peace process back on track.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble is hoping Mr Bush will issue an ultimatumto republicans, threatening sanctions in America if the IRA fails to disarm.
"I would hope that the President will do what he can to help things along andbring home to people what needs to be done.
"The IRA and the republican movement have reached the moment of truth andthat moment of truth has to be the abandonment now of the physical forcemovement," he said.
With the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair returning onThursday to make a joint declaration aimed at restoring devolution it is hopedMr Bush's contribution can create the necessary impetus for a finalbreakthrough.
Controversial proposals include allowing paramilitary "on-the-run"prisoners to return to Northern Ireland and imposing sanctions on parties thatfail to honour their commitments to peace in the power-sharing administration.
Unionists are unhappy with the prospect of an amnesty for terrorist suspectsor the prospect of ex-paramilitaries serving on district policing partnerships.
Republicans are resisting Unionist demands for a public act of IRAdecommissioning as part of the price for the restoration of the power-sharingAssembly at Stormont.
They are also continuing to oppose the imposition of sanctions, believing thisdemand is aimed against them.
With an IRA statement expected some time after the joint statement by theBritish and Irish premiers, Mr Trimble is demanding that disarmament had to beboth visible and transparent.
"It has be done in a such a way that provides public confidence.Unfortunately previous decommissioning did not create the public confidence thatwe had hoped."
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams believed a deal could still be done onThursday but said his party needed to be reassured that there would be nofurther threats from unionists to bring down the power-sharing institutions.
"Let's see in the wake of the joint declaration and any other announcementthat are made by the Taoiseach and the Prime Minister what the response is," headded.
Sinn Fein supporters will be among the thousands of anti-war protestersexpected to make their way to the Co Down village of Hillsborough tomorrow for amajor demonstration against the war in Iraq.
Mr Adams said there were clear contradictions in holding a war summit inconjunction with discussions on the Irish peace process.
But he praised the US Government's role in efforts to bring about peace inNorthern Ireland.
"This administration and others have played a key role in the peace processhere and I don't have any problems talking about all of that.
But "I'm very mindful that there are contradictions ."If I have the opportunity I have no problem being on an anti-wardemonstration and then going in to talk to the President.
His unease was shared by Mark Durkan, leader of the Social Democratic andLabour Party.
"Bringing the two issues together in this sort of event management way ishighly questionable. I have registered my deepest misgivings with thegovernments about this," he said.
PA