Martin McGuinness, "Appealed to the DUP to be part of the Executive"
The Sinn Féin President said this morning that the issue of weapons has effectively now been taken out of the political equation. Gerry Adams said that the IRA's decision to start disarming should remove the logjam holding up the Northern peace process.
He was speaking at a press conference at Westminster. He said that he now expected a warm and generous response from Ulster Unionists and from the British government to the IRA's arms announcement.
Mr Adams said that he saw no reason why there should be British troops in any part of Ireland. "I want to see all that infrastructure removed," he added.
Martin McGuinness has said the events of the past few days have been truly historic. Speaking in Belfast, the party's Chief Negotiator said that it is now vital that the British government fulfils its commitments on a new beginning in policing and the demilitarisation of South Armagh and other areas across the North.
He also appealed for anyone with influence over the UDA and other loyalist groupings to help stop their campaign of violence as a matter of urgency. Mr McGuinness appealed to the DUP to be part of the Executive, saying that the old days are gone and are not coming back.
The SF Minister also said he was now hopeful that the Northern Executive would be restored as a matter of urgency, that the Unionist ministers would be back in office soon and that David Trimble would be re-elected First Minister.
