In the latest crisis to engulf Northern Ireland’s peace process, Britain said yesterday it will suspend the fledgling power-sharing administration in Belfast within days unless the IRA promises to disarm.
Britain’s Northern Ireland secretary, Peter Mandelson, said he will introduce legislation today transferring power back to London.
The Ulster Unionists agreed in November to accept the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party as colleagues in the Cabinet established by 1998’s Good Friday peace accord — but only on condition that IRA disarmament would follow.