THE ever-vulnerable peace process in Northern Ireland was being shaken from all sides today - as the IRA admitted breakaway republicans had stolen weapons from its stockpiles, loyalist paramilitaries said they were rearming and "punishment" beatings and shootings soared to their highest for a decade.

But while these threats to the ceasefire are intense, one encouraging factor stands out - that of the men of violence having no political ground on which to stand.

For they and the people on both sides of the Ulster divide who support them have been exposed by the ballot-box verdict on the Good Friday agreement as the rejected minority.

And now that Amnesty International is to investigate the outbreak of punishment attacks - encouragingly with the support of Sinn Fein - the weight of international denunciation for violence may also be added to the peace process, so that those who oppose it may yet realise their battle is lost.

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