Trimble expects progress on arms

Mr David Trimble, the North's First Minister, has expressed confidence that the IRA will move on the decommissioning of weapons…

Mr David Trimble, the North's First Minister, has expressed confidence that the IRA will move on the decommissioning of weapons.

Speaking in Antrim yesterday, he said: "George Mitchell, when he concluded his review, said decommissioning should begin as soon as possible. I think that republicans ought to avoid giving the impression that they are dragging their feet in any way on this. I am quite confident about arrangements. I am quite confident about the future.

"I have said ever since the agreement that things are not going to be easy, that there are going to be problems, and there have been problems. But we also had enormous progress since the agreement. I look forward to the coming weeks and months with considerable confidence."