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IRA snubs appeals for new truce in Ulster

BELFAST: IRA guerrillas on Thursday ignored pleas to call a new truce and insisted they had a right to wage war against British rule over Northern Ireland.

Their defiant message, issued ahead of the territory's volatile "marching season" when pro-British Protestants and pro-Irish Catholics take to the streets, cast further gloom on faltering Anglo-Irish peace efforts in the troubled province.

Britain immediately condemned the statement, saying it remained committed to pushing forward the peace process.

Speaking for the government, Northern Ireland economy minister Baroness Denton said: "Threatening people so that they have to look over their shoulder all through Easter doesn't seem to me a very great thing to be doing."

In London security services have already been put on alert after intelligence warnings about Irish Republican Army threats. To combat the threats, the government earlier this week rushed through parliament new counter-insurgency measures.

Security services fear the IRA might strike to coincide with weekend parades in both Irelands marking the 80th anniversary of the IRA's "Easter Rising" against British rule in Dublin.

In the East London Docklands area, where the IRA detonated a bomb, killing two on February 9, a security source told Reuters: "Security has been increased 100 percent in the last two days in anticipation of renewed bombings to commemorate the Easter 1916 anniversary."

In a statement issued in Dublin, the guerrilla leaders said: "The IRA, whose mandate for armed struggle derives from Britain's denial of the fundamental right of the Irish people to national self-determination and sovereignty, has made its position clear. We reaffirm that position.".

It pledged willingness to facilitate unconditional peace talks, an offer which moderate nationalist leaders said was a positive sign in the otherwise polarised political landscape.

The IRA, which ended a 17-month ceasefire with the Docklands and three other London bombs, said Northern Ireland's 25 year conflict could be resolved only in talks. It blamed Britain for keeping its Sinn Fein political arm out in the cold.

"The IRA remains fully committed to its republican objectives and, for so long as Britain persists in its denial of national and democratic rights in Ireland, then the IRA will continue to assert those rights."

Britain and Ireland say they will hold all-party peace talks on the province's future on June 10 but are adamant that Sinn Fein will not be given a seat unless the IRA ends the violence.

Protestant politicians, speaking for a majority in the 1.6 million population province who support British rule, said they were not surprised by the IRA's stance.-Reuter