'IRA men' arrested in Columbia

The Northern Ireland peace process today faced another potential stumbling block after allegations that three men arrested in Colombia were IRA members training rebels in explosives and tactics.

The Northern Ireland peace process today faced another potential stumbling block after allegations that three men arrested in Colombia were IRA members training rebels in explosives tactics.

Colombian officials also claimed forensic tests on the clothing of the trio turned up traces of four different kinds of explosives and of cocaine, it was reported.

Peter Robinson of the Rev Ian Paisley’s anti-Agreement Democratic Unionist Party said: ‘‘The whole basis of the peace process was that the IRA were moving away from violence and were now committed to exclusively peaceful and democratic methods.

‘‘This shows they are still wedded to violence and are trying to kill people.’’

The East Belfast MP added: ‘‘The only thing not yet known is, what is the quid pro quo? What is the IRA getting in return?’’

Colombian defence minister Gustavo Bell told a news conference the three were arrested in Bogota on Saturday after allegedly spending five weeks training members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - FARC - in a rebel safe haven in southern Colombia.