Security normalisation 'fully justified' says PM

Steps taken by the Government to scale back the military presence in Northern Ireland are 'fully justified' in security terms, the Prime Minister has said.

Mr Blair was speaking following talks with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and the Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley on Thursday.

The Prime Minister added that the IRA's announcement had not changed the basis of the peace process in Northern Ireland.

"You cannot have the institutions in Northern Ireland back up and running except on the basis that it is clear in word and in deed that exclusively peaceful means are the only way to achieve progress," he said.

Mr Blair also said moves to remove Army watchtowers and to reduce troop levels were justified in the light of the current security situation.

"These are things that are justified and actually have been justified for some time in security terms," he continued.

"With the IRA's statement we can implement that but that has not been forced politically against the security wishes of the police or the Army.

"Obviously you have to mark carefully what happens. You had the IRA's statement but you then have got to make sure that what has been said in theory is carried through in practice."

DUP leader Ian Paisley said his party would require a "prolonged period of assessment" to determine whether the IRA had given up its armed campaign.

Speaking following his party's meeting with the Prime Minister, the North Antrim MP called for "total decommissioning that everyone can be satisfied with".

"We are not going to have any discussions about devolution until the requirements Mr Blair set out are fulfilled by the IRA," he said.

Sinn Fein MP for Mid-Ulster, Martin McGuinness, said the DUP would have to respond to an agenda "which is very clearly moving on without them".

"The ball game has changed, changed completely and I think forever," he added.

(MB/SP)