De Chastelain on standby for IRA arms destruction

AN early act of decommissioning by the IRA, possibly this weekend, could pave the way for talks aimed at restoring devolution in the North beginning as early as September.

The International Independent Commission on Decommissioning, chaired by Canadian general John de Chastelain, is on standby to oversee any new step the IRA takes towards the destruction of its arsenal, following the organisation's statement that its armed campaign was over.

General de Chastelain will oversee the decommissioning process together with two clergymen one Protestant, one Catholic.