The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, met in Downing Street last night to discuss alleged IRA links to FARC and the break-in at the Castlereagh police complex.
After the 30-minute meeting, Mr Trimble questioned the credibility of the IRA's statement that it was not involved with the Colombian terrorists. "They claim they had nothing to do with Colombia and never sent anybody there," Mr Trimble said.
"What credibility does that have? People were arrested, people known to be senior members of the republican movement were arrested."
Although clearly angered by the latest developments, Mr Trimble, who was accompanied to Downing Street by the UUP MPs Mr Jeffrey Donaldson and Mr Roy Beggs, said he would give Mr Blair the "time and space" to consider his response to the situation.
The Northern Ireland Secretary, Dr John Reid, said the British government shared Ulster Unionist concerns about recent reports of republican activities. But he said he did not believe the IRA intended to return to violence. "What is important for the credibility of the peace process is that people can see as the months and years proceed, not only a ceasefire but movement away from the apparatus of violence," Dr Reid said.
Meanwhile, a British government spokesman denied the assertion by Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams, that London urged the US Congress to investigate alleged links between the Provisional IRA and FARC.
Mr Adams insisted yesterday that the request to hold the hearings came from "a representative" of the British government. But the government spokesman said it was "absurd and grasping at straws to suggest that the US Congressional Committee received encouragement from anyone to investigate narco-terrorism in Colombia."
Further condemnation of Mr Adams's decision not to attend the Congressional Committee came from the Shadow Northern Ireland spokesman, Mr Quentin Davies. Commenting on the committee's conclusion that the IRA was part of an international terrorist network, Mr Davies insisted Mr Adams had "no defence" against such devastating charges.
"I am afraid that we all have to come to terms with the fact that the organisation which is now a part of the Stormont Executive in Belfast, and members of which have been given a special status in the House of Commons by this government, is a terrorist organisation with the most sordid links with international drug dealers and criminals across the globe," said Mr Davies.