DUP accuses British of ignoring IRA

The anti-agreement Democratic Unionist Party has accused the British government of deliberately turning a blind eye to IRA activity.

Speaking after a meeting with Northern Secretary John Reid today, DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson said it was clear that Britain would not impose any sanctions on Sinn Fein over allegations that the IRA has broken its ceasefire.

"In order to prop up the so-called peace process, the Secretary of State is prepared to close his eyes to anything that the Provisional IRA do," Mr Robinson said.

The DUP had sought the meeting with Dr Reid to discuss allegations that the IRA was testing weapons in Colombia in recent years, that it was involved in the theft of security documents from Castlereagh barracks in Belfast last March and that it had orchestrated recent street clashes in Belfast.

Sinn Fein and the IRA have denied all the accusations.