Republicans urged to clarify statement in bid to break peace deadlock

THE IRA has been asked to provide further clarification on its statement as efforts continued to break the deadlock in the peace process.

British Government sources confirmed Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and British Prime Minster Tony Blair are withholding a decision to travel to the North to unveil proposals for implementing the Good Friday Agreement in full until the IRA has responded to requests for more detail about a statement passed to London and Dublin on Sunday.

Both governments acknowledged the IRA statement represents progress in efforts to restore devolution.