THE Northern Ireland peace process is delivered a worrying blow today, with the IRA's terse statement ruling out giving up any of its weapons and saying the Good Friday agreement fell short of "presenting a solid basis for a lasting settlement."

It is clear from this that the IRA regards the structure that is mapped out for Ulster in the peace deal as purely a foundation for the pursuit of its uncompromising aim of a united Ireland.

But while essentially there may be nothing new in this, the spectre of them retaining the ability to pursue that aim once again with guns is disturbing. And, as we have seen from their strong reaction, it has handed the Unionists protesting against the Good Friday deal a pile of propaganda for their 'No' campaign.

How, then, is the IRA/Sinn Fein leadership to remain convincingly aboard the peace process?

It is up to republican voters on both sides of the border to convince them, and the wary and doubting Unionists, that peace is what they want, by voting overwhelming for the Good Friday deal in next month's referendums.

If they do, IRA/Sinn Fein may then be disarmed of its mandate for violence.

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