The IRA is planning another statement within days and could accompany that with a further act of disarmament, Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble claimed today.
Mr Trimble urged unionists to prepare for news from the IRA following Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams's appeal for them to consider laying down all arms and fully embracing politics.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble
However, Mr Trimble also said that republicans would not be allowed in any future executive at Stormont without moves to disband the IRA for good.
He declared: "You would have heard the rumours that there is a further IRA statement on the way and that it might even come in the course of this week and that it might even be accompanied by a further act of decommissioning.
"It has been suggested that statement will include references to the standing down of the IRA.
Now I think it is important that unionists are ready for such a further statement and that they be measured in their language and reaction," he said.
Mr Trimble said that from experience, republican statements tended to be ambiguous and were often inclined to fall short of expectations. He said unionists would not be surprised if the IRA tried to cover up deficiencies in language with an act of disarmament.
But he added: "I have to say to republicans - and this is hugely important - that such behaviour, such ambiguity, will not work. If republicans are contemplating this, they need to make sure they do it properly.
Last week the IRA confirmed it was embarking on an internal debate with its members about its future following Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams appeal for it to consider a new direction and embrace the democratic alternative to arms struggle.
Mr Adams told a Chamber of Commerce event in Derry yesterday he believed the IRA would not be able to complete that process in the short time scale that some political opponents had demanded.
The Ulster Unionist leader also downplayed the impact of the appearance of his predecessor, Lord Molyneaux, and outgoing UUP MP for South Belfast the Rev Martin Smyth in election literature for a DUP candidate in that constituency.
He also dismissed DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley's claims that no Ulster Unionist seat was safe in this General Election.
Following the decision by UK unionist leader Robert McCartney to stand aside in North Down and allow the DUP's candidate Peter Weir a clear run for the anti-Good Friday Agreement vote, Mr Trimble said: "Let's be quite clear about this.
"Lady (Sylvia) Hermon is going to be the next Member of Parliament for North Down. There is absolutely no doubt about that. I think the people of North Down know a quality representative when they have one."