IRA issues statement denying involvement in Colombia

Within the past hour, the IRA as issued a statement denying any involvement in Columbia.

The IRA statement said it has never interfered in the internal affairs of Columbia.

The IRA statement says that "in recent days the arrest of three Irishmen in Columbia has been used again in an intensive way by opponents of the peace process in Ireland and Britain."

This is, it says, a very serious matter and the IRA felt compelled to respond. The statement then makes two points: one that its Army Council sent no-one to Columbia to train or engage in any military co-operation with any group and two, that the IRA has not interfered in the internal affairs of Columbia nor will it do so in the future.

The IRA is, it says, committed to the successful outcome of the Irish peace process and the threat to that process does not come from the IRA. The statement is signed P. O'Neill indicating it comes from the leadership of the IRA.