Rank and file IRA men 'would not have agreed to disarm'

A senior Sinn Fein member says rank and file IRA men would not have agreed to disarmament if the decision had been left to them.

Jim Gibney says the move was an IRA leadership initiative, which was "leadership led". Mr Gibney is a member of Sinn Fein's ruling executive.

General John de Chastelain, head of the international decommissioning body, is expected to have more talks with the IRA representative as part of the developing process.

A Sinn Fein councillor in Monaghan has resigned in protest at the decommissioning and republicans have confirmed considerable unease among the membership, but insist there will be no split.