IRA prepared to re-enter decommissioning talks

The IRA leadership says it will reenter talks with the international body on decommissioning.

In a statement released within the last few minutes, the IRA says it will only do so on the basis that the British Government delivers on its commitment to implement the Good Friday Agreement.

In the statement, the IRA says it has been briefed on the negotiations leading up to today's talks between Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair.

It says the British Government has shown it is "not prepared to uphold the commitment it made last May in an agreement with the IRA over policing, equality and demilitarisation".

It adds however that despite this, it is prepared to enter into further discussions with the international body on decommissioning on the basis of its commitment to resolving the arms issue as given in its statement of May last year and on no other basis.

For the engagement to be successful, the British Government must "deliver on its obligations", says the statement.