United States backs Blair demand for IRA peace clarification

THE United States yesterday backed British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s demand that the IRA should clarify its commitment to the peace process.

US special envoy to the North Richard Haas said he was confident, if the IRA gave clear and unambiguous answers to Mr Blair’s questions, the present deadlock would be broken.

Mr Blair has said the IRA statement of April 13 did not go far enough and he wants them to answer three straight questions about ending all activities before the power-sharing executive can be restored.

Mr Haas said that, if the IRA went further, he was confident the Unionists would respond positively:

“Dramatic steps are what are required and nothing less will suffice. This is one of those win-win or lose-lose situations.”

Sinn Féin reacted angrily to Mr Blair’s three questions and insisted the IRA statement was clear and unambiguous.

Sinn Féin chairman Mitchell McLoughlin said Mr Blair’s statement was a smokescreen designed to provide political cover for the Ulster Unionist Party and allow them to continue to veto the process.

It was imperative elections go ahead and people want Mr Blair to state clearly whether there is going to be an election on May 29.

Following Mr Blair’s hint that the assembly elections may not go ahead, Northern Secretary Paul Murphy would not reveal the British Government’s plans yesterday.

Asked if the elections will be postponed if it fails to get clarity from the IRA, Mr Murphy said: “We have done it once before, but our priority is to produce something worth electing politicians to.”

Mr Murphy said they will have to get a positive framework to work towards and get a declaration on acts of completion before any progress could be made in the next couple of days.

The Northern Secretary stressed both the British and Irish Governments were determined to resolve the peace process and were working hard to achieve that within a very short timeframe.

Mr Murphy said there was no need for anger from Sinn Féin: “What we are saying is that we have not got sufficient clarity. The IRA has not moved far enough and so the picture is incomplete.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) accused David Trimble of being in a state of blind panic at the prospect of the assembly elections going ahead.

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson claimed the Ulster Unionist Party was running scared of the May 29 elections and was trying to get the British Government to move the date for a second time.