Adams urges loyalists to follow IRA pledge

Gerry Adams today urged loyalist paramilitaries to follow the IRA and ditch their guns.

The Sinn Féin president also challenged Democratic Unionist leader the Rev Ian Paisley to face to face talks in a bid to revive the North's power-sharing administration.

Mr Adams claimed the IRA’s decision to abandon its armed campaign created an unparalleled opportunity which must be grasped by all sides involved in the political process.

Even though bosses within the main protestant paramilitary organisations have pledged to retain their weapons, Mr Adams insisted it was time to leave violence behind.

He said: “I would like to think that as the import of the IRA’s decision starts to play out, sensible people within loyalism will follow the example.

“Sensible people within all those other armed groups will take pause for thought on these matters.”

Despite yesterday’s declaration by the IRA that it will now follow a purely political and democratic process, Mr Paisley and his senior party colleagues demanded action rather than words.

A major new push by the Irish and British governments to restore devolution in the North could now depend on the DUP and Sinn Féin agreeing to work together.

Although Mr Paisley has refused to enter any direct negotiations with republicans, Mr Adams claimed Unionists now faced a responsibility to work together.

“They need decisive leadership and that’s for Ian Paisley and his colleagues to come to terms with,” the Sinn Féin leader said. "I believe it’s now time for dialogue between us.”