Senior figures in the IRA have apparently rejected calls to disband saying the organisation would not accept "unrealistic demands" but insisted it was not a threat to Northern Ireland's peace process.
The comments are being reported after a briefing from "a senior IRA source" and come in an apparent response British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair's speech on Thursday calling on the movement to halt all its activities.
"There's considerable concern within the IRA at recent developments and at the sustained efforts to present the IRA as a threat to the peace process," the IRA source said.
"The IRA is not a threat to the peace process and will not accept the imposition of unreasonable demands," the source added.
In a speech in Belfast on Thursday, Mr Blair said the peace process could not continue "with the IRA half in, half out".