IRA arms stance blamed for deadlock

THE IRA’s failure to move on weapons or declare the war is over was blamed for disrupting a new plan to restart the Northern Ireland peace process.

However, the Irish and British Government’s said talks were ongoing with pro-agreement parties and the publication of their joint proposals to break the deadlock has been postponed rather than cancelled.

Efforts were made overnight to rescue their plan fully to implement the Good Friday Agreement on the accord’s fifth anniversary.