UK pulls down Irish watchpost

Britain began demolishing one of its Northern Ireland watchtowers8212;symbols of its military presence8212;on Friday as peace efforts revi...

Britain began demolishing one of its Northern Ireland watchtowers8212;symbols of its military presence8212;on Friday as peace efforts revived in the province following the Irish Republican Army8217;s pledge to end its armed campaign.

The move came as part of commitments by Britain and Ireland to fulfil promises delayed by the IRA8217;s past failure to disarm. 8216;8216;In light of yesterday8217;s developments 8230; a further reduction in the security profile is possible,8217;8217; General Commanding Officer Reddy Watt said.

The dismantling of the eight hill-top watchtowers along the Irish border has been a long-standing Irish demand, to normalise life after a 30-year conflict.

The move put pressure on the IRA to fulfil its side of the deal by dumping the huge arsenal that sustained its fight for a united Ireland until a 1997 ceasefire.

The IRA has given no timetable but The Irish Times on Friday quoted government sources as saying Dublin hoped the IRA8217;s entire arsenal could be destroyed by the end of August. Delivering proof to satisfy sceptical pro-British Protestants weary of previous broken promises will be tough and is likely to take months.

Even further off is the revival of a suspended Belfast-based Assembly, set up under 19988217;s Good Friday peace deal for Protestants and Catholics to run Northern Irish affairs together. The proposed Assembly was put on ice three years ago over the IRA8217;s reluctance to disarm. At present, the Protestant Democratic Unionist Party refuses to even talk to the main Catholic party Sinn Fein until the IRA disarms fully.

8216;8216;We will judge the IRA8217;s bona fides over the next months and years, based on its behaviour and activity,8217;8217; said firebrand cleric and DUP leader Ian Paisley.

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The IRA, responsible for half of the killings during the 8216;8216;troubles8217;8217;, has never said how big its arms cache is and many doubt the group will be able to persuade all of its members to give up weapons and the power8212;and money8212;they can bring. 8212;Reuters