The IRA has rejected demands for decommissioning "in the current political context" but has stated its "definitive commitment" to the success of the peace process.
In a statement last night the IRA did not rule out the prospect of weapons decommissioning. But it declined to say whether it supports Sinn Fein's signing up to the principle that decommissioning should take place by May 2000. The IRA blamed the British government and unionists for the political crisis and called on the British government to rescue the credibility of the process.
The statement falls short of what the Irish and British governments had hoped for and sought for some time - an IRA statement agreeing with Sinn Fein's position on decommissioning as outlined during intense talks three weeks ago. The UUP had also called for such an IRA statement, saying it did not accept assurances on decommissioning from Sinn Fein.
A Government spokesman declined to comment last night, saying it was Government policy not to comment on IRA statements.
However, the Government will take comfort from the language used in the key part of the statement on decommissioning. The statement does not rule out the prospect of IRA decommissioning, but objects to demands for decommissioning "in the current political context". This political context, it says, could and should be changed.
This key part of the statement reads: "Those who demand the decommissioning of IRA weapons lend themselves, in the current political context, inadvertently or otherwise, to the failed agenda which seeks the defeat of the IRA. The British government have the power to change that context and should do so."
The IRA says it has contributed "in a meaningful way" to the creation of a climate that would facilitate the search for a settlement.
The statement points out that there have been two IRA ceasefires, the first of which ended because of "the demand by the Conservative government for an IRA surrender." It goes on to say that those who now seek weapons decommissioning are lending themselves, "in the current political context, inadvertently or otherwise, to the failed agenda which seeks the defeat of the IRA".
The DUP deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, said last night this was a clear threat: people did not meet their demands before and they went back to bombing, and now their demands were again not being met. "This is a further attempt to put the gun to the head of Tony Blair to ensure he continues to make concessions," he said.
The failure to establish the political institutions set out in the Belfast Agreement was the culmination of 15 months in which the agreement was undermined, the IRA statement says. It questions the credibility and motivation of unionist leaders, saying there was "irrefutable evidence that the unionist political leadership remains, at this time, opposed to a democratic peace settlement".
Full text of IRA statement and reaction: page 8