The Irish and British governments have played down the Provisional IRA decision to suspend contact with Gen John de Chastelain's decommissioning body.
But Sinn Féin's senior negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness, said efforts at resuscitating the political process must be stepped up and the two governments should take the lead in fostering moves to reinstate the suspended Stormont institutions and outstanding elements of the Belfast Agreement.
The IRA made known its decision to suspend contact for a second time with the commission on decommissioning in today's edition of An Phoblacht.
Signed "P. O'Neill", its statement blamed the British government for the current crisis in the peace process and claimed the Blair administration had "by its own admission not kept its commitments". The statement added: "Despite this, the British government says that the responsibility for this present crisis and its resolution lies with us and there is an effort to impose unacceptable and untenable ultimatums on the IRA."
Last night the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said he believed the IRA move was a "distraction" and probably a tactical step designed to boost the republican negotiating position.
Showing no great alarm, Mr McDowell added: "People may decide to take tactical steps at this time or to try to improve their negotiating position. But the Irish people have a date with destiny and this kind of thing is a distraction."
The Government said Dublin and London remained committed to the full implementation of the agreement "and to ensuring the irreversible changes on all sides that will promote the confidence and trust essential for progress and stability in Northern Ireland".
In Belfast, the new Northern Secretary said the IRA statement was "regrettable and disappointing". Mr Paul Murphy added: "The Prime Minister has made it clear that all paramilitary activity needs to come to an end if the political process is to succeed." Well-placed sources at Stormont agreed that the IRA could be positioning itself for future hard talking, while attempting to deal with rumblings among its own hardliners.
The IRA statement follows a speech in Belfast two weeks ago in which Mr Blair pressed for an end to all paramilitary activity, promising swift implementation of the agreement. Mr Blair said a process in which the IRA was "half in and half out" could not work and was destroying confidence.
Mr Gerry Adams gave his considered response at the weekend. He said Mr Blair needed to reinstate the Stormont institutions and "embark on a process of irreversible change", adding that as far as he was concerned the IRA cessations had moved the Provisionals "out of the picture".
Republicans, angry at being blamed for the current difficulties, are keen to shift the focus on to the British government. They want evidence of commitment to the outstanding aspects of the agreement, especially in relation to policing and justice. They are also demanding a timetable from Downing Street which makes it clear when progress will be made.
Mr McGuinness meets Mr Murphy this afternoon. The Northern Secretary is hosting a series of meetings with the Northern parties before meeting the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, in Dublin next Wednesday.
Last night, Mr McGuinness denied it was the business of Sinn Féin to decode IRA statements. "There is a huge political responsibility on all political leaders to work together and I think the key focus of the two governments at this time has to bring about a process of political dialogue and discussion which is absolutely about putting up the institutions which were taken down in the course of recent days," he said.
There are other dimensions to it like demilitarisation, the need to bring about a new beginning to policing and the need to stop loyalist attacks on Catholics.