Colombian arrests raise 'credibility questions'

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, has said the arrest of three IRA suspects in Colombia raised "very serious concerns and credibility questions".

The best way of resolving those questions was for the IRA to re-establish contact with the arms decommissioning body and put its own weapons proposals "back on the table", he added.

Mr Cowen said officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs had been in touch with the Colombian authorities about the arrest of the three men facing explosive training charges.

"What have been emerging are a lot of conflicting stories, and I do not want to add to that," he said.

"But clearly the credibility questions that are arising need to be addressed. And I think the best way of addressing them is by re-establishing contact with the De Chastelain commission and building on the progress that has been made."