War and peace

The IRA last night began preparations to get rid of all weapons and explosives as the leadership declared an end to its terrorist campaign.

All units, including men who fought police and British troops for 36 years, were ordered to dump arms and assist in the development of a final democratic settlement in Northern Ireland.

Even though the IRA have officially been on ceasefire since 1997, the announcement - delivered by former IRA prisoner Seanna Walsh, - was historic.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said it was a step of unparalleled magnitude, adding: "This may be the day when finally, after all the false dawns and dashed hopes, peace replaced war, politics replaces terror on the island of Ireland."

There was immediate endorsement by the Republic's Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and Irish-America in Washington. The response of Unionists also fell well short of outright dismissal.

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, the Reverend Ian Paisley, said that the IRA would be judged over the next months and years, based on its behaviour and activity.

He said: "Even on the face of the statement, they have failed to explicitly declare an end to their multi-million-pound criminal activity and they have failed to provide the level of transparency that will be necessary to truly build confidence that the guns have gone in their entirety.

"This lack of transparency will prolong the period the community will need to make its assessment."

But Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams insisted the IRA decision was a courageous and confident initiative.

In Dublin, Mr Adams said: "There is a time to resist, to stand up and to confront the enemy, by arms if necessary. In other words, there is a time for war. There is also a time to engage, to reach out and put war behind us."

General John de Chastelain, head of the international disarmament body, will preside over the destruction of the IRA's remaining arsenal.

Mr Blair, the Irish Government and the White House, in Washington, are satisfied the Republican movement is set on a future free of violence.

But in the aftermath of December's £26.5m Northern Bank robbery, and the murder of Robert McCartney, they accept it will be many months before Unionists can be persuaded to re-enter negotiations with the Sinn Fein leadership.

The International Monitoring Commission, set up to oversee the IRA ceasefire, is due to make a report in October and again in January, three months earlier than planned.

But it will be next spring before they will be able to make a full assessment of any IRA activity, including links to criminality.

Mr McCartney's sister, Catherine, said last night the IRA's statement did not go far enough.

"The IRA has not spelled out where it stands on those within its ranks who indulge in criminal activity," she said.

"It tells them they have to stop it. But it does not say what happens if they don't stop it."

Mr McCartney, 33, was battered and stabbed by a group of IRA men in an alley outside a Belfast bar on January 30.

The IRA's statement made no reference to criminality, insisting instead that its volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever.

But once the decommissioning process is over, this is the one key area on which its post-July 28 actions will be judged.

They also yesterday failed to signal any move towards signing up to policing arrangements, and Mr Blair and Mr Ahern are acutely aware that without Republican approval of Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde and his officers, there can be no permanent stability on the streets of Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain may hold talks with the various political parties.

But until the details of the IRA disarmament become known over the next few weeks, there is no chance of serious dialogue opening up.

ARMED police protected travellers across the region yesterday amid a heightened state of security.

A week after the latest attempts to bomb London, officers with machine guns were on East Coast Main Line station platforms as part of what was described nationally as the largest deployment of police to the rail network.

Armed officers were at train stations in Newcastle, Dur-ham, Darlington and York, and at Durham Tees Valley Airport, while mobile patrols were also in operation.

Police forces insisted the move was not a response to a specific threat to the region, but was part of the heightened state of alert nationally.

A Durham Police spokes-man said: "It is important that potentially vulnerable areas are secured, and that includes stations, airports and other key areas of public transport."

Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, of Cleveland Police, said: "High visibility patrols have been increased since the terrorist attacks, and they will continue.

"Events that we have seen in London are a nationwide threat. They can happen anywhere, even in Cleveland, and people should be alert to that."

Northumbria Police would not discuss details of their operation, but said: "We have resources in place which enable us to deal with any issue that may arise."

Meanwhile, train operator GNER last night revealed that the bombings a fortnight ago and last week's failed explosions were expected to hit passenger numbers.

But a spokesman said: "There is no reason for people to alter their travel plans as the route is as safe as it ever has been, and all the things we are doing are designed to maintain that."

Anyone with suspicions about terrorist activity can call the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.