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.