Bush government backs demands on IRA

US President George Bush’s government today threw its weight behind Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern’s demands for an end to all paramilitary and criminal activity in Northern Ireland.

Following two hard-hitting statements from the IRA in Belfast this week, a US State Department spokesman said the decision by the Provisionals to withdraw last year’s offer of disarmament was unwelcome.

He also insisted all republican and loyalist terror groups had to follow through on commitments in the Good Friday Agreement to disarm.

“The statement on February 2 by the Provisional IRA that it is withdrawing its offer to disarm is unwelcome,” the US State Department official said.

“We share the view of the British and Irish Prime Ministers that the continuation of paramilitarism and associated criminality remains the central obstacle to a lasting and durable peace in Northern Ireland.

“All paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland should follow through on the Good Friday Agreement commitments to the decommissioning of all weapons.”

The statement surfaced after Condoleezza Rice met Tony Blair and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in London on her first overseas trip in her new role as US Secretary of State.

President Bush’s special envoy on Northern Ireland, Ambassador Mitchell Reiss, has remained in his post despite Colin Powell’s decision to leave the US State Department and make way for Ms Rice.

During efforts to revive devolution last year, Ambassador Reiss took part in the Leeds Castle talks with the Northern Ireland parties in Kent.

During more talks last December, President Bush telephoned Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams in a bid to persuade them to strike a deal.

The process broke down when the IRA refused to sanction photographs of its disarmament process – a key DUP demand.

The peace process was plunged further into crisis following claims that the IRA carried out the Northern bank raid in December in Belfast.

Working relations between Sinn Féin and the Irish Government, in particular, have hit rock bottom following Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s allegation that Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness must have known the IRA was planning the robbery during negotiations.

In a second statement this week, the Provisionals ominously warned the British and Irish governments last night not to underestimate the current crisis and accused London and Dublin of making a mess of the process.

The US State Department said: “The US applauds the Irish and British governments for their tireless efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland and urges Northern Ireland’s parties to continue their efforts towards such an agreement.

“The people of Northern Ireland deserve no less. The US remains engaged with the two governments and with the Northern Ireland political parties to push for a comprehensive settlement.”

There has been speculation that the White House may downgrade President Bush’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations and even freeze Sinn Féin leaders out of the event following Northern Ireland chief constable Hugh Orde’s claims that the IRA carried out the bank heist.

US government sources said it was wrong to place too much significance on the lack of information about this year’s event.

“We have only just had the inauguration, a reshuffle and the State of the Union address from the President, so I wouldn’t read too much into it,” an official said.

“Other things have been on the agenda.”