Sinn Féin's chief negotiator has said there is not the remotest possibility of the IRA surrendering any of its weapons ahead of the establishment of the new northern executive. Martin McGuinness told the BBC that he did not believe the IRA would respond to Unionist demands for decommissioning, because that would represent a surrender. The new executive is supposed to be established by March 10.
In a seperate development, more than 2000 people attended a rally in Belfast this afternoon calling for an end to what they said was the unionist veto on full implementation of the Stormont Sgreement. Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle member Sean McManus from Sligo said Republicans knew there would be no decommissioning, because the IRA leadership had already said so.
Earlier, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister said that he believes the decommissioning issue can be resolved. Speaking on RTE's This Week programme, Seamus Mallon said he agreed with First Minister David Trimble that the hurdle could be overcome. Mr Mallon said the vast majority of Sinn Féin members wanted the new political structures to work and he did not believe the paramilitaries would return to violence.
