Peace process - Basis for optimism as towers fall

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was quite positive and upbeat in his remarks yesterday about the Northern peace process.

He welcomed as "very significant" the British Government's announcement that they have begun to remove the two British Army watchtowers in South Armagh near Forkhill and Newry.

Those towers, which are being demolished as part of Britain's demilitarisation commitment, have long been an issue of contention with the local nationalist community, which contains some of the most militant republicans.