DUP: Test period for IRA statement could be extended

The testing period for the IRA to prove its statement is for real will be extended if there is a lack of transparency around the disarmament process, republicans were told today.

Democratic Unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson said his party believed unionists would need a longer time to be convinced the IRA had consigned its armed campaign to history if there were no photographic record of weapons decommissioning.

While the Lagan Valley MP said his party had not yet assessed how long that testing period would last, he warned republicans: "The assessment period will have to be prolonged because of the failure of the IRA to decommission in an open and verifiable manner.

"The publication of photographic evidence of the decommissioning process would help to build confidence in this move within the unionist community. Obviously the lack of such evidence will prolong the period for people to assess what the IRA is saying and doing represents a genuine end to all paramilitary and criminal activity.

"The DUP will not be pushed into an premature decision to go into government with Sinn Féin.''

Mr Donaldson's comments came as Irish and British government officials waited for a statement from General John de Chastelain's decommissioning body confirming a fourth act of IRA disarmament.

In its statement announcing an end to the armed campaign, the IRA ordered all units to dump arms and committed themselves to completing the process of putting their weapons beyond use in the presence of two independent witnesses from the Protestant and Catholic clergy.

Unionists noted the organisation did not commit itself to video or photographic evidence showing the arsenal being destroyed, a key demand of the DUP in talks last year involving the two governments and Sinn Féin.