Unionists call for photographic proof

THE IRA must provide photographic evidence that it has destroyed its arsenal of weapons, unionist leaders insisted last night.

That demand scuppered a power-sharing deal between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin last December and now threatens acceptance of the Provisionals’ claim to have abandoned the armed struggle.

DUP leader Ian Paisley said he was deeply sceptical of the IRA statement and focused specifically on its “ambiguity” regarding decommissioning.

“The IRA have failed to provide the level of transparency that would be necessary to truly build confidence that the guns have gone in their entirety.

“This lack of transparency will prolong the period the community will need to make its assessment,” he said.

The IRA has refused to allow decommissioning to be captured on film and its statement said the process would be verified by two independent witnesses.

DUP Assembly member for North Antrim Ian Paisley Jr insisted the proposal amounted to the organisation picking its own witnesses to suit itself.

“Tony Blair himself said everyone in Northern Ireland, particularly unionists, has got to have confidence and believe that decommissioning has taken place. The only way that will happen is if we see it and believe it on our terms, not the IRA’s terms,” he said.