IRA suspects detained in South America

Three suspected Provisional IRA men from Northern Ireland have been detained after a surveillance operation by police in south America.

They are being held in Bogota, Colombia, where forensic tests for traces of explosives have been carried out on their clothes.

Two were travelling on British passports, the third on an Irish one - all believed false.

The Colombian authorities have been in contact with the RUC, exchanging fingerprint tests and photographs.

The identities of two of the men have been established, but it is understood the third has yet to be confirmed. Sources said all three are members of the Provisional IRA.

They were arrested as police monitored their movements after they entered the country, sources said.

The authorities believe there could have been contact between them and a terrorist organisation, known as the FARC movement, the revolutionary armed forces of Colombia.

The East Belfast MP Peter Robinson said he had been alerted by UK intelligence of the arrests and claimed they could have implications for General John de Chastelain's decommissioning body.

He said: "It will be of significant interest, given Colombia's reputation, the nature of any charge that might be preferred."