Following a statement by the IRA the British Army began dismantling some of its controversial watchtowers in border area.
If the IRA guns are going, so too are some of the British Army watchtowers loathed by many nationalists.
While the IRA would not allow photographs or filming of their arms being decommissioned, the British army did allow the dismantling of army watchtowers to be recorded. The footage was provided by the British Army Press Office. This report shows the Romeo 12 watchtower in South Armagh being dismantled.
One of the key international players in the peace movement, former US President Bill Clinton, describes what is happening as "a good day" for Northern Ireland.
The Independent Monitoring Commission, a body set up to monitor the illegal activity of all paramilitary groups, described the IRA statement as potentially very significant but they will be monitoring the IRA closely to make sure it keeps its promises.
From Dublin Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams comments on the prospect of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) agreeing to power sharing with the republicans.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 29 July 2005. The reporter is Tommie Gorman.
