UK faces 'sombre' N. Irish situation

Trimble quit as first minister at midnight on Saturday

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- The resigned first minister of Northern Ireland has decried the lack of paramilitary disarmament in the province.

David Trimble spoke before the UK's House of Commons in London about an independent report on the effort, which accused both the Irish Republican Army and loyalist groups of stalling.

Northern Ireland Secretary Dr. John Reid also admitted the UK government faces "a serious and sombre" situation in Northern Ireland.

Reid also praised Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble, who quit as Northern Ireland First Minister on Sunday over the IRA's failure to comply with the Good Friday Agreement over decommissioning.

AUDIO AUDIO: David Trimble: "Arms should already have been handed over" 1.00 MB / 1 min 30 secs AIFF or WAV sound   ANALYSIS Q&A: Trimble's gamble explained

He said both Trimble and the SDLP's Seamus Mallon, who automatically ceased to hold office as Deputy First Minister, had offered "distinguished leadership."

The report by the commission headed by Sir John de Chastelain, said both loyalist and republican paramilitary groups had failed to surrender arms -- with each group providing different reasons for holding on to their weapons.

The commission says that in its talks with the IRA, the republican paramilitary group failed to spell out how it plans to put its weapons "beyond use."

The commission confirmed it had asked the IRA "in a number of lengthy meetings since March" to provide it with information of how it intends to handover weapons.

The report said: "In each of our meetings we have been assured of the IRA's commitment to put its arms beyond use, completely and verifiably but only in the context of its statement of May 6, 2000.

"Taken in conjunction with the continued maintenance of the July 1997 ceasefire and the opening of some IRA arms dumps to inspections by the International Inspectorate, we believe that this conditional commitment is made in good faith.

"We have, however, been unable to ascertain how the IRA will put its arms beyond use, except for the assurance that it will be complete and verifiable.

"The IRA has taken note of our need for this information but until we know what method will be used, we cannot judge if it meets our remit."

The commission said the IRA's representative had expressed an eagerness to continue with his engagement with the commission.

The Ulster Volunteer Force said it would not consider disarming until it knew what the IRA's plans were and had a declaration that the Provisionals' war was over.

The commission concluded: "Given the conditions the IRA, UVF and UFF say they require before they will put their arms beyond use, we believe we cannot influence that activity by making demands or by setting deadlines.

"But we will continue to do what we can to implement our mandate through continuing contact and discussion with each of the three paramilitary groups."

Later, addressing the House of Commons, Reid said: "In the coming weeks, all of us must show it is politics, not violence which works.

"We are determined to live up, in full, to our obligations under the Good Friday agreement -- but others must do so as well."

In a frank assessment of the situation, he acknowledged that there was now "little time left to resolve the difficulties and obstacles" remaining.

"We face a serious and sombre situation in Northern Ireland," he admitted. "But I think it is right to recall the progress we have already made."

He confirmed that de Chastelain's commission had "regrettably" reported no decommissioning of arms by the IRA, UVF or UFF.

He said: "I am disappointed that the Commission has still to receive answers to the two key questions -- how and when arms will be put beyond use.

"The simple fact is that the Good Friday agreement needs to be implemented in full. The people of Northern Ireland want to see a fair and equal society."

The report and Trimble's resignation come amid mounting tension in Northern Ireland.

Security is being stepped up for the annual Protestant marching season which reaches its peak in coming weeks.

Authorities in Northern Ireland on Monday banned the province's most hotly-contested Protestant parade from marching through a flashpoint Roman Catholic area, Reuters reported.

The Parades Commission barred the Protestant Orange Order from marching along the Garvaghy Road, an overwhelmingly Catholic enclave in the largely Protestant town of Portadown, in their annual Drumcree parade scheduled for July 8.