Blair reiterates parties be 'clean' of paramilitarism

Parties which want to be part of the government of Northern Ireland must be “clean” of any connections with paramilitary activity, British Prime Minister Tony Blair insisted today.

Mr Blair told his monthly press conference that the Independent Monitoring Commission, whose first report earlier this week called for financial penalties against republican and loyalist politicians linked to active terror groups, would play a significant role in the peace process from now on.