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Date Posted: 23:25:55 04/22/05 Fri GMT
Author: Lynn
Subject: US legislator predicts IRA will disband (Washington Post)

washingtonpost.com

U.S. Legislator Predicts N.Irish IRA Will Disband


Reuters
Sunday, April 10, 2005; 10:52 AM

DUBLIN (Reuters) - A leading Irish American politician on Sunday predicted the Irish Republican Army would disband following a call from Gerry Adams, leader of its political ally Sinn Fein, for the group to renounce violence.

Adams' comments that there was now an alternative to the IRA's "armed struggle" against British rule in Northern Ireland could indicate the start of moves to wind up the group, although opponents have dismissed his words as a pre-election stunt.

"In terms of Irish history this is certainly an enormous statement, the fact that he's asking the IRA to stand down," said Congressman Peter King, a New York Republican who has been one of Sinn Fein's strongest supporters in the United States.

"When you look at this ... in the full context of history it's a very, very dramatic step forward," he told Irish state broadcaster RTE in a radio interview.

Adams said last Wednesday the IRA should abandon the gun for good and fully embrace politics as a means of achieving its goal of uniting the province with the Irish Republic to the south.

The IRA said it would give Adams' call "due consideration."

His comments came after a period of intense pressure on Sinn Fein over its perceived ties to the IRA. In recent months the guerrilla group has been blamed for a massive Belfast bank raid and implicated in a brutal bar killing.

On a trip last month to the United States -- traditionally a valuable fundraising base for Sinn Fein -- Adams was snubbed by President Bush and Irish American Senator Edward Kennedy, while King said the IRA had outlived its usefulness and should go.

"I think they should disband as quickly as they can," King told RTE. "I was very critical six weeks ago ... but right now I think it's important to be positive, to look forward to the day, which I think will not be far off, when the IRA will stand down."

Opponents have questioned the timing of Adams' comments, which came the day after British Prime Minister Tony Blair called parliamentary elections.

Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell, a consistent critic of Sinn Fein who accuses Adams of being a senior IRA commander, said on Saturday he feared the speech was an election stunt.

Despite recent controversies linking it to alleged IRA activities analysts predict Sinn Fein will do well in the British election on May 5 and may capture more seats from the SDLP, its moderate rival for minority Catholic votes.
© 2005 Reuters

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